Did The Environment Come Up In the First Democratic Debate In Detroit?

Source: ABC News

The political fighting going on these days is discouraging.  President Trump is a disappointment (not that I voted for him), and Democratic candidates are widely represented.  Which is to say, there are a whole lot of them?  What are their views on Climate Change, along with other environmental issues plaguing our country today?  In an earlier post last month, I hyperlinked a few of the Democratic candidate's climate plans as offered in the news article cited.



Since I did not get a chance to watch the debate in Detroit, I will rely on Politico to summarize up the debate for me -- as shown below:

ABOUT LAST NIGHT: Democratic hopefuls once again only discussed their climate plans briefly last night, but the discussion managed to span issues including the Flint, Mich., drinking water crisis to a declaration by Sen. Bernie Sanders that the fossil fuel industry is criminal.

"We've got to ask ourselves a simple question: What do you do with an industry that willingly, for billions of dollars in short-term profits, is destroying this planet. I say that is criminal activity that cannot be allowed to continue," Sanders (I-Vt.) said.

The response came after more than an hour without a specific climate question. Former Maryland Rep. John Delaney was the first to get a chance to respond to a climate question, by calling for a direct air capture market and panning the Green New Deal as unrealistic. Ohio Rep. Tim Ryan, meanwhile, called for "a sustainable and regenerative agriculture system that sequesters carbon into the soil," and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren highlighted a "green industrial policy" plan that "takes advantage of the fact that we do what we do best, which is innovate and create."

Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar said "a voice from the Heartland" is required to make progress on infrastructure and climate change, and called for changing the capital gains rate to pay for rural broadband and green infrastructure. Author Marianne Williamson used her time to put the drinking water crisis in plain terms: "We need to say it like it is, it's bigger than Flint. It's all over this country. It's particularly people of color. It's particularly people who do not have the money to fight back."

READY FOR ROUND 2: The remaining 10 Democrats will debate tonight, and it's expected to be more combative. Washington Gov. Jay Inslee has signaled he'll go after his opponents for their lack of action on climate change. Inslee — who unveiled another climate plan Monday — wrote an op-ed this week on the need for Democrats to increase their focus on the issue, and tweeted last night that he was "mad as hell" climate was not brought up in the first hour. Not to mention, the super PAC supporting him unveiled new ads this week hitting several front-runners for not making climate change a high priority.

Eyes will also be on former Vice President Joe Biden after his previous debate clash with Sen. Kamala Harris, whom he'll face again tonight. This time the California Democrat will come armed with new environmental justice legislation she crafted with Green New Deal author Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.).

Who's debating tonight: Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet; Biden; New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker; former HUD Secretary Julián Castro; New York Mayor Bill de Blasio; Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard; New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand ; Harris; Inslee and entrepreneur Andrew Yang.

Regardless of whoever occupies the Oval Office in 2020, the change that accompanies climate change will inevitably have to contain substantial infrastructure changes.  To change an entire nation (the U.S.A) will require an extensive funding measure. A measure which is incomprehensible and unimaginable in size. Which is why modifications made on the state level are better.



State-level management is enough to drive change.  Change that can happen on familiar territory.  A one size fits all plan will not work for the entire U.S.  There are too many diverse states (and local regions) for a one size fits all method to work.  If local and state politicians start realizing plans which will work in their districts, large scale change will be possible.  The one major component which needs to happen first is a change of political will.  Currently, there are 'pockets' of 'political will' throughout the United States, which are proof that change is on the horizon.



Nonetheless, funding decisions need to be made by politicians in Washington, D.C. -- which is why candidates position/platform on such funding is critical toward moving forward.  Funding which will pay for large-scale projects.  Projects looking into the future.  Projects which deal with cleaning up from the past -- a result of climate change disasters occurring more frequently.  The first step toward changing the nation is a discussion.  Enjoy the second debate.


Related Blog Posts:


Listen to Democratic Candidates Answers Tonight Regarding Climate Science and Green New Deal


Science Topics, Thoughts, and Parameters Regarding Science, Politics, And The Environment!