Sunrise Movement Releases Green New Deal Scorecards for Leading Candidates

Sunrise Movement on Monday released Green New Deal scorecards of the three highest-polling Democratic candidates for President as part of its efforts to press candidates to put forward and champion ambitious Green New Deal plans that meet scientists' criteria for what is necessary to stop the climate crisis. The results scored Sen. Bernie Sanders' plan at 92% and Sen. Elizabeth Warren's plan at 82%, while former Vice-President Joe Biden's plan earned 42%. The scorecards grade candidates based on the ambition and comprehension of their plans to combat the climate crisis, as well as how and how often they proactively talk about climate change on the campaign trail and through social media. Vice President Biden earned fewer points due to setting relatively unambitious emissions reductions goals, failing to address equity and justice in his plan to transition the country's energy system, generally lacking details around the rhetoric of his plans, and not centering the Green New Deal in his campaign.

Read the full results: scorecard.sunrisemovement.org

"This year, we did something everyone thought was impossible: we set the bar for climate plans where scientists said it needed to be for a livable future. These scorecards show how much candidates have risen to the challenge," said Sunrise Movement co-founder and Executive Director Varshini Prakash. "Establishment politicians and pundits told us we were naive and should stick to what is politically possible. Today, leading candidates for President are running on climate plans more ambitious than any others ever proposed in American history, eclipsing those proposed even four years ago."

Sunrise Movement has not endorsed any presidential candidate in the Democratic Party primary election, and the Scorecards are not intended as an effort to influence voting, but rather to push all candidates to get serious about pushing for ambitious solutions to solve the climate crisis.

"Candidates have really leaned into the Green New Deal," said Sunrise Political Director Evan Weber. "While much work remains, one thing is for sure: we've changed the conversation for the better, and ratcheted up the level of climate ambition to a place few would have thought possible just months ago. We're going to keep focused on growing the movement, and doing the long-term work of building an army of young people who will pass a Green New Deal into law under the next President."

Sunrise Movement selected Biden, Warren, and Biden, because, when the scoring began they were the three leading candidates. They will release scorecards for additional Presidential candidates over the next few weeks, and will update scorecards as candidates' positions evolve--that is, candidates have the ability to improve their scores by increasing their commitment to tackling the climate crisis.