“We face as all people know,
an ecological crisis in our time,
whether it’s acid rain,
the destruction of the ozone layer,
the greenhouse effect.”
Bernie Sanders has been talking about
the climate crisis for decades
and his message hasn’t changed.
“What we are trying to do tonight
is to transform our energy system
away from fossil fuel
and to not only save the planet
but create millions of good
paying jobs in the process.”
Over the years in Congress,
he's authored some of the most ambitious bills
to cut our use of fossil fuels.
“We have a moral obligation
 to make certain that the planet we
leave our kids and our grandchildren
is a planet that is healthy and is habitable.”
On the campaign trail, Bernie has gone
all in for a Green New Deal.
“The most comprehensive plan ever
released by anybody.”
It’s one reason he’s been endorsed
by the Sunrise Movement.
His plan would move the country to
100% renewable electricity by 2030,
and remove all fossil fuels from
the economy by 2050.
Other parts of the plan would
help frontline communities
deal with the effects of climate change worldwide.
“The good news is that we have made
real breakthroughs in recent years
in substantially lowering the cost of wind and solar,
and other forms of sustainable energy.”
Bernie wants to support small family farms
by investing in sustainable agriculture
and he wants to take on the
fossil fuel industry directly.
“The fossil fuel industry is probably criminally liable.
Because they have lied, and lied, and lied
when they had the evidence that
their carbon products
were destroying the planet.
And maybe we should think about
prosecuting them, as well.”
He’s against all fracking,
and opposes drilling both on
federal public lands and offshore.
He doesn't support building any new nuclear plants.
His plan is the most expensive proposed
by any of the Democratic candidates.
But Bernie says it’s a price worth paying.
“You’re right, it is expensive.
But I also say that the cost of doing nothing
will be far, far more expensive.”
