Detroit, Michigan — Tonight during the second Democratic primary debate, both Jay Inslee and Cory Booker touted their high marks in Greenpeace’s 2020 climate scorecard, Joe Biden stated that fossil fuels have “no future” in US climate policy, and Kamala Harris still doesn’t have a climate plan.
In response, Greenpeace USA Senior Climate Campaigner Jack Shapiro said:
“Shout outs are great, but what we really need is a climate debate. Jay Inslee leads our Climate 2020 ranking — and is the only candidate to receive an ‘A’ grade — because he is the only candidate with a comprehensive plan to end drilling, fracking, and mining for fossil fuels in the United States while protecting workers and vulnerable communities. This is what we need to stave off climate crisis and pave the way towards an economy powered by renewable energy. It is time for the rest of the field to get up to speed.
“The reckoning for the fossil fuel industry is upon us, and it will be up to our next president to hold the industry at the center of the climate crisis accountable for its crimes. If Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, and others want to translate their leadership in the polls into leadership on climate change, they need to tell us how they’ll confront oil and gas executives head on.”
The top ten in Greenpeace’s 2020 climate ranking [1] currently stands at:
- Jay Inslee – A
- Kirsten Gillibrand – A-
- Cory Booker – A-
- Bernie Sanders – B+
- Elizabeth Warren – B+
- Joe Biden – B+
- Tulsi Gabbard – B
- Marianne Williamson – B
- Beto O’Rourke – B-
- Pete Buttigieg – C
ENDS
[1] The interactive candidate scorecard is available here, a detailed breakdown by candidate is available here, and the scoring methodology is available here.
To maintain independence, Greenpeace USA does not endorse or oppose any political party, candidate, or elected official. We work to hold all candidates for office to the standard that science says is necessary to avert climate crisis, which means supporting a Green New Deal and ending fossil fuels.
Contacts: Ryan Schleeter, Senior Communications Specialist, Greenpeace USA: +1 (415) 342-2386, [email protected]
