Sanders Long-Awaited Climate Plan Should Scare Fossil Fuel CEOs

Today, Bernie Sanders released a comprehensive plan for how he would invest $16 trillion in a Green New Deal to accelerate the transition to renewable energy, confront the fossil fuel industry, and create millions of green jobs as president. In the plan, he commits to keeping fossil fuels in the ground by ending federal giveaways for coal, oil, and gas extraction, and to prioritizing frontline communities and workers who will bear the effects of climate change disproportionately.

In response, Greenpeace USA Senior Climate Campaigner Jack Shapiro said:

"Sanders has talked the talk on climate change from day one of his campaign. This plan shows he's ready to walk the walk, as well. At this point in the race, speeches and half measures don't cut it. We need all the candidates to come out with concrete plans in line with the scale of the crisis we're facing, as Sanders has just done. Our next president must be ready to take advantage of the opportunity that addressing climate change and transitioning to 100% renewable energy represent for people across the country -- especially those who breathe in coal ash or live near oil pipelines or fracking wells.

"If fossil fuel executives and lobbyists reading Sanders' plan are scared, they should be. They've spent millions of dollars to convince the American people that we can't thrive without oil, gas, and coal, when the exact opposite is true. It's time we have a president who calls out their dangerous lies, not one who repeats them."

Throughout his campaign, including during the most recent Democratic primary debate in Detroit, Sanders has advocated for holding fossil fuel industry corporations accountable for their role in the climate crisis. Long regarded as a champion for climate issues in the Senate, this is his first comprehensive climate plan of the 2020 election cycle.

Prior to the release of the plan, Sanders sat at fourth place with a "B+" grade in Greenpeace's 2020 candidate climate ranking [1]. His score will be reevaluated and announced later today following his appearance in Sacramento, California, where he's expected to meet with communities affected by last year's Camp Fire.