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The Progressive

NewsWire

A project of Common Dreams

For Immediate Release
Contact:

Seth Gladstone, sgladstone@fwwatch.org, 917.363.6615

Bernie's Climate Plan is a Benchmark and a Game-Changer

Statement of Wenonah Hauter, Executive Director, Food & Water Action

WASHINGTON

This morning, U.S Senator and presidential candidate Bernie Sanders released a campaign climate and energy plan that would, among other things: ban fracking; halt new fossil fuel extraction on federal lands; ban fossil fuel imports and exports; rebuild water infrastructure through the WATER Act; break up corporate factory farming; and require 100 percent clean, renewable energy-sourced electricity and transportation by 2030. In response, Food & Water Action Executive Director Wenonah Hauterissued the following statement:

"With this aggressive and inspired plan, Senator Sanders has set a clear benchmark for meaningful climate and energy policy in the presidential race and beyond. This plan includes the bold action and rapid timelines required to adequately address the magnitude of the climate crisis we face. Bernie's plan is a game-changer.

"Most importantly, this plan would ban fracking, the toxic, polluting drilling method responsible for almost all oil and gas production in America today. Any serious plan to address climate chaos must start with a ban on fracking and a halt to all new fossil fuel development. Senator Sanders understands this, and he has set the bar for worthwhile climate policy discussion, here and abroad."

A new report from Food & Water Watch charts recent and pending fossil fuel infrastructure buildout by surveying the power, petrochemical and gas export industries collectively. Overall, the report accounts for more than 700 fracked gas infrastructure projects that have been recently built or proposed for development - including gas-fired power plants, petrochemical/plastics facilities, and liquid natural gas (LNG) export terminals.

"What we see in this report is an industry blueprint for ensuring decades more of fossil fuel dominance over our society. If it becomes realized, the endgame would be a scary, dangerous world of omnipresent plastic waste, expanding air and water pollution, unacceptable health impacts and irreversible climate chaos," said Ms. Hauter.

Food & Water Watch mobilizes regular people to build political power to move bold and uncompromised solutions to the most pressing food, water, and climate problems of our time. We work to protect people's health, communities, and democracy from the growing destructive power of the most powerful economic interests.

(202) 683-2500