Elizabeth Warren Adopts $3 Trillion Climate Crisis Plan, Challenges All 2020 Candidates to Do Same
04 September 2019
Politics
U.S. presidential candidate Sen. Elizabeth Warren speaks at a house party in Hampton Falls, New Hampshire on Sep. 2. Nic Antaya / The Boston Globe / Getty Images
Sen. Elizabeth Warren announced that she would adopt Gov. Jay Inslee's climate crisis plan and add in an $1 trillion in investments to help protect workers and to fund a dramatic shift in infrastructure away from fossil fuels if she is elected president, as CNN reported.
<div class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="c0eea1e75e7188c732dcae21ad92854a"><div class="fb-video" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/ElizabethWarren/videos/515205322651800/" data-allowfullscreen="true"></div></div><p>Warren said her plan includes a "federal investment of $3 trillion" and "will leverage additional trillions in private investment and create millions of jobs," as <a href="https://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/elizabeth-warren-3-trillion-taxes-clean-energy-environment-plan" target="_blank">reported</a> by Fox Business.</p><p>"One of the most important of these ideas is the urgent need to decarbonize key sectors of our economy," Warren wrote on <a href="https://medium.com/@teamwarren/100-clean-energy-for-america-de75ee39887d" target="_blank">Medium</a> yesterday. "Today, I'm embracing that goal by committing to adopt and build on Inslee's ten-year <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/jay-inslee-climate-plan-2638977218.html" target="_self">action plan</a> to achieve 100% clean energy for America by decarbonizing our electricity, our vehicles, and our buildings. And I'm challenging every other candidate for President to do the same." </p><p>Earlier this summer, Warren announced she would invest $2 trillion in her <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/warren-green-manufacturing-plan-2638696109.html?rebelltitem=2#rebelltitem2" target="_self">Green Manufacturing plan</a>. That plan, which she also posted to <a href="https://medium.com/@teamwarren/my-green-manufacturing-plan-for-america-fc0ad53ab614" target="_blank">Medium</a>, seeks to pivot the American <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/energy-news/" target="_self">energy</a> and manufacturing sector toward the $23 trillion market for <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/renewable-energy/" target="_self">renewable energy</a>.</p>
<div id="0a054" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="GXYREM1576661516"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1169266430694559744" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">“Today I’m embracing that goal by committing to adopt and build on Governor Inslee’s 10-year action plan to achieve… https://t.co/tHPeJk5gaa</div> — Carolyn Berninger (@Carolyn Berninger)<a href="https://twitter.com/carolyn_bern/statuses/1169266430694559744">1567609815.0</a></blockquote></div><p>Last week, Warren met with Inslee, who campaigned for president on the climate crisis issue but recently suspended his campaign after failing to gain traction in polls, as the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/03/us/politics/elizabeth-warren-climate-change-plan.html" target="_blank">New York Times</a> reported.</p><p>"Jay didn't merely sound the alarm or make vague promises. He provided bold, thoughtful and detailed ideas for how to get us where we need to go, both by raising standards to address pollution and investing in the future of the American economy," Warren wrote on <a href="https://medium.com/@teamwarren/100-clean-energy-for-america-de75ee39887d" target="_blank">Medium</a> yesterday. "While his presidential campaign may be over, his ideas should remain at the center of the agenda."</p><p>Her new plan was released a day before CNN hosts 10 of the Democratic candidates, including Warren, in a town hall dedicated to the climate crisis.</p><p>In her latest proposal, which builds on her <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/warren-green-manufacturing-plan-2638696109.html?rebelltitem=2#rebelltitem2" target="_self">Green Manufacturing plan</a>, the Massachusetts senator incorporates Inslee's plan to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions from power plants, vehicles and buildings over 10 years. She argues that the spending would easily be paid for by cancelling the Trump tax breaks for wealthy individuals and corporations, according to <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/03/us/politics/elizabeth-warren-climate-change-plan.html" target="_blank">the New York Times</a>.</p><p>Warren's plan, like Inslee's, would look to close down coal-fired electricity plants within a decade, but also funds health care and pensions for coal miners. Her plan and Inslee's share a new federal regulation on cars with the aim of zero-emissions for most cars, pickup trucks and busses by 2030, as the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/03/us/politics/elizabeth-warren-climate-change-plan.html" target="_blank">New York Times</a> reported.</p>
<div id="a092b" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="EY1OGT1576661516"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1169023238539792386" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">New: Elizabeth Warren is endorsing Jay Inslee’s climate change plan. The two met in Seattle last weekend, and in th… https://t.co/G7tGDFWepa</div> — MJ Lee (@MJ Lee)<a href="https://twitter.com/mj_lee/statuses/1169023238539792386">1567551834.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p>While Inslee's candidacy is over, his influence is clear as candidates scramble to release plans to address the climate crisis ahead of the climate change town hall, which Inslee lobbied for. In her maneuver to adopt Inslee's plan, she has won over some close to the Washington governor.</p>
<p>"Gov. Inslee has made his Climate Mission plan an open source document, and he's pleased to see Sen. Warren taking up major elements of his plan," said Jamal Raad, a spokesman for Inslee, as <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2019/09/03/politics/elizabeth-warren-jay-inslee-clean-energy-plan-green-new-deal/index.html" target="_blank">CNN</a> reported. "He is particularly impressed that Senator Warren is adopting his aggressive targets to reach 100% clean energy in electricity, cars and buildings, ending coal power, and making a commitment to investing in good, union jobs and a just transition for front-line communities."</p>
<p>In addition to Warren, several candidates are releasing their climate crisis plan. California Sen. Kamala Harris unveiled her $10 trillion plans on Wednesday. New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker and former Obama cabinet member Julián Castro presented theirs on Tuesday. Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar released hers over the weekend. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders released his plan last week, which is the boldest and most expensive of all at $16.5 trillion. Entrepreneur <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/yang-gang-climate-plan-2640057117.html" rel="noopener noreferrer">Andrew Yang</a> also released his $4 trillion plan last week. While South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg unveiled a $1.1 trillion plan earlier today. </p>
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Jay Inslee, Who Led the Push for a Climate Debate, Drops out of Presidential Race
22 August 2019
Politics
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee delivered his 2019 State of the State address on Jan. 15. Governor Jay and First Lady Trudi Inslee / Flickr
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, who made solving the climate crisis the center of his presidential campaign, is dropping out of the 2020 Democratic primary race.
<p>Inslee announced his exit Wednesday while speaking on MSNBC's The Rachel Maddow Show, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/aug/21/jay-inslee-2020-democrats-drops-out-climate-change" target="_blank">The Guardian reported</a>.</p><p>"It's become clear that I'm not going to be carrying the ball," Inslee said. "I'm not going to be the president, so I'm withdrawing tonight from the race."</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">I know you agree that our mission to defeat climate change must continue to be central to our national discussion -- and must be the top priority for our next president. But I’ve concluded that my role in that effort will not be as a candidate to be our next president. <a href="https://t.co/Kp8WejuVJy">pic.twitter.com/Kp8WejuVJy</a></p>— Jay Inslee (@JayInslee) <a href="https://twitter.com/JayInslee/status/1164353525951815680?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 22, 2019</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<p>Inslee failed to qualify for the third Democratic primary debate in September, as well as for a climate-themed CNN town hall. Inslee had met the donor threshold for the third debate, but not the polling threshold, <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2019/08/21/politics/jay-inslee-drops-out-of-race/index.html" target="_blank">CNN reported</a>.</p><p>Despite failing to qualify for the climate town hall, <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/climate-crisis-debate-democrats-2020-2638713051.html?rebelltitem=3#rebelltitem3" target="_self">Inslee was the first candidate</a> to call for a debate focused solely on the issue. He also put forward several ambitious plans to address the climate crisis. The first <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/gov-inslee-climate-plan-2636412112.html" target="_self">promised a transition</a> to 100 percent <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/renewable-energy/" target="_self">renewable energy</a> by 2035. <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/jay-inslee-climate-plan-2638977218.html" target="_self">Another plan</a> targeting the <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/fossil-fuels" target="_self">fossil fuel</a> industry would have ended subsidies, banned drilling on public lands and made carbon polluters pay. On Wednesday, the day of his resignation, he also <a href="https://www.jayinslee.com/issues/growing-rural-prosperity" target="_blank">dropped a new plan</a> focused on <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/tag/agriculture" target="_self">agriculture</a>, including a commitment to invest in climate-friendly farming innovations.</p><p>The <a href="https://www.sunrisemovement.org/" target="_blank">Sunrise Movement</a>, a grassroots group that has led the push for a <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/green-new-deal" target="_self">Green New Deal</a>, took to Twitter to celebrate his campaign's legacy.</p><p>"Jay Inslee entered the race with the goal of putting the climate crisis at the center of the campaign," the group wrote. "He may be leaving the race, but it's clear he and the movements who fought alongside him are succeeding in that mission."</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/JayInslee?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JayInslee</a> entered the race with the goal of putting the climate crisis at the center of the campaign. <br><br>He may be leaving the race, but it's clear he and the movements who fought alongside him are succeeding in that mission. <a href="https://t.co/R6NUHRgLcH">https://t.co/R6NUHRgLcH</a></p>— Sunrise Movement 🌅 (@sunrisemvmt) <a href="https://twitter.com/sunrisemvmt/status/1164378499169378304?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 22, 2019</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<p>David Roberts, who has covered Inslee's campaign for Vox, <a href="https://www.vox.com/energy-and-environment/2019/8/21/20826258/jay-inslee-presidential-exit-interview" target="_blank">praised the detail</a> of his plans, which now amount to more than 200 pages of climate policy:<br></p><blockquote>The result is far more than a campaign document — it's a comprehensive governing blueprint. It takes the lofty aspirations of the Green New Deal and translates them into nuts and bolts, specifying which agencies and programs need to do what. Whichever Democratic candidate may become president, they would do well to keep a copy of Inslee's plan on their desk.</blockquote><p>Inslee is not yet ready to say which candidate he hopes will end up in the Oval Office. He said they all needed to bolster their climate plans. But he said Wednesday that "every single one of them is 100% better than the current occupant, no question about that," CNN reported.</p><p>In an email to supporters reported by CNN, he outlined what his campaign had accomplished:</p><blockquote>"Many of the campaigns started with little attention to climate, but since our campaign began, we've seen almost every serious candidate put out a climate plan; we've seen climate come up in both debates; and we now have two networks hosting nationally-televised climate forums in September," he said. "Most importantly, we have introduced a detailed and comprehensive policy blueprint for bold climate action and transformation to a clean energy economy. We will fight to ensure this gold standard of climate action is adopted and executed by our party and our next president."</blockquote><p>With his presidential hopes over, Inslee is likely to announce a run for a third term as Washington's governor Thursday, two people close to him told the <a href="https://apnews.com/db63525e3d7d4222acb357496334baf5" target="_blank">Associated Press</a>.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Presidential Candidate <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JayInslee?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#JayInslee</a> Unveiled His First Major <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Climate?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Climate</a> Plan <a href="https://t.co/kYbOtB0a8t">https://t.co/kYbOtB0a8t</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/ClimateNexus?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ClimateNexus</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/DeSmogBlog?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DeSmogBlog</a></p>— EcoWatch (@EcoWatch) <a href="https://twitter.com/EcoWatch/status/1125475401575354370?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 6, 2019</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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Democratic Candidates Spent 13 Minutes on Climate Change in Second Presidential Debate
01 August 2019
Politics
NPR / YouTube screenshot
Democratic presidential candidates spent 13 minutes on climate change in the second presidential debate Wednesday evening in Detroit — one more minute than the 12 spent on Tuesday evening, according to a Washington Post tally.
<p><br/></p>
<p>Washington governor Jay Inslee, whose campaign has centered around the issue, kicked off the discussion by centering climate change as "all the issues that we Democrats care about. It is health. It is national security. It is our economy." Sen. Cory Booker (NJ) joined Inslee in targeting former Vice President Joe Biden's plan to continue <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/fossil-fuels" rel="noopener noreferrer">fossil fuel</a> use and Booker calling out Biden's brag that he will rejoin the <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/paris-agreement" rel="noopener noreferrer">Paris agreement</a>. "Nobody should get applause for rejoining the Paris climate accords," Booker said. "That is kindergarten." As Robinson Meyer writes in The Atlantic, tech mogul Andrew Yang's argument that a universal basic income is the best way to mitigate climate impacts "is not a good response to losing your house to <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/tag/sea-level-rise" rel="noopener noreferrer">higher sea levels</a>."</p>
<p>As reported by <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2019/08/pretty-good-democratic-debate-about-climate-change/595276/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Atlantic</a>:</p><blockquote>Climate change is a sprawling, scary, cinematic problem, and its remedies involve the less-than-inspiring technical undergirding of society: <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2017/08/why-cities-flood/538251/" target="_blank">stormwater management</a>, the electrical grid, <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2018/12/ocasio-cortez-green-new-deal-winning-climate-strategy/576514/" target="_blank">dirt</a>. And dirt management will never be as engrossing as, say, Medicare for All. The party may also benefit, in a sort of shallow but undeniable way, from its monopoly on climate concern. Since any Democrat would do more to fight climate change than the current president, what's the point of airing dirty laundry about it in public?</blockquote><blockquote>"We have all put out highly similar visions on climate," South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg said on Tuesday night. "We will deal with climate if and only if we win the presidency."</blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">A new poll shows that 96% of Democratic voters want leaders to prioritize climate action and 91% want universal health care like <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MedicareForAll?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MedicareForAll</a>! The people want bold ideas to solve our toughest problems, which is why so many progressives won in 2018! <a href="https://t.co/nLbG4SMgm6">https://t.co/nLbG4SMgm6</a></p>— Pramila Jayapal (@PramilaJayapal) <a href="https://twitter.com/PramilaJayapal/status/1123633574161334272?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 1, 2019</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<p><strong>For a deeper dive:</strong><br/></p><p><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/08/01/more-electability-than-foreign-policy-second-debate-topics-by-numbers/?utm_term=.46407b9751a0" target="_blank">Washington Post</a>, <a href="https://www.motherjones.com/environment/2019/08/joe-bidens-climate-plan-melted-during-the-debate/" target="_blank">Mother Jones</a>, <a href="https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2019/7/31/20749498/democratic-debate-climate-change-cory-booker-paris" target="_blank">Vox</a>, <a href="https://komonews.com/news/local/inslee-preaches-climate-change-at-latest-democratic-debate-gets-big-reaction" target="_blank">KOMO</a>, <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2019/08/pretty-good-democratic-debate-about-climate-change/595276/" target="_blank">The Atlantic</a>, <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2020-election/here-s-why-democrats-debate-over-issues-mattered-n1038051" target="_blank">NBC</a>, <a href="https://theweek.com/articles/856262/jay-inslee-just-wants-save-world-from-climate-change" target="_blank">The Week</a>. Commentary: <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2019/08/andrew-yangs-horrific-debate-answer-climate-change/595267/" target="_blank">The Atlantic, Robinson Meyer analysis</a>, <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2019/07/31/opinions/jay-inslee-2020-witnessed-climate-change-devastation/index.html" target="_blank">CNN, Jay Inslee op-ed</a>)<br/></p><p><em>For more </em><a href="http://ecowatch.com/climate-change-news/" target="_blank"><em>climate change</em></a><em> and </em><a href="http://ecowatch.com/business/renewables/" target="_blank"><em>clean energy</em></a><em> news, you can follow Climate Nexus on </em><em><a href="https://twitter.com/ClimateNexus" target="_blank">Twitter</a> </em><em>and </em><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ClimateNexus/" target="_blank"><em>Facebook</em></a><em>, and sign up for daily </em><a href="http://climatenexus.us4.list-manage1.com/subscribe?u=d1f5797e59060083034310930&id=7c84c08aaa" target="_blank"><em>Hot News</em></a><em>.</em></p>From Your Site Articles
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Washington Gov. Jay Inslee announcing his run for President on a climate-focused campaign. Karen Ducey / Getty Images
In his latest bid to be the 2020 climate candidate, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee unveiled a plan Monday to target the fossil fuel industry by both phasing out extraction and making it pay for the damage it has already done.
<p>The plan would end subsidies for <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/oil" target="_blank">oil</a>, <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/natural-gas" target="_blank">natural gas</a> and <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/tag/coal" target="_blank">coal</a> companies, ban drilling on federal lands and waters, phase out <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/tag/fracking/" target="_self">fracking</a> and institute a "Climate Pollution Fee," <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/449973-inslee-unveils-plan-to-fight-fossil-fuel-pollution" target="_blank">The Hill reported</a>.</p>
<p>"To build a clean energy economy, we must transition off of fossil fuels, and we will need a President who is willing to stand up to the fossil fuel corporations," Inslee said in a statement reported by The Hill.</p>
<div id="42af2" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="AQTDWI1576661674"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1143201749127221250" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">Fossil fuel companies are raking in record profits while they fuel the greatest existential crisis of our time — o… https://t.co/Q9rHVzlHHJ</div> — Jay Inslee (@Jay Inslee)<a href="https://twitter.com/JayInslee/statuses/1143201749127221250">1561395511.0</a></blockquote></div><p>Inslee's "<a href="https://www.jayinslee.com/issues/freedom-from-fossil-fuels?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=fff" target="_blank">Freedom From Fossil Fuels</a>" Plan is divided into five main components.<strong><br></strong></p><p><strong>1. "Ending Fossil Fuel Subsidies"</strong></p><p><strong></strong>The U.S. currently pays $26 billion to fossil fuel companies in direct support a year, the most of any G7 nation. Inslee's plan seeks to end this state of affairs by closing tax loopholes, recuperating payments for fossil fuel extraction on <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/public-lands" target="_self">public lands</a> and ending federal support for the industry, such as transitioning the Department of Energy's Office of Fossil Energy into the Office of Industrial Decarbonization. Overall, the plan would eliminate almost $20 billion a year in subsidies, according to The Hill.</p><p><strong>2. "Banning New Federal Leasing and Phasing-Out Fossil Fuel Production"</strong></p><p>Inslee promised a ban on new fossil fuel leasing on day one, and then pledged to work with Congress to make the ban permanent. His plan would work to phase out fossil fuel extraction off of public lands as well. It also seeks to develop a "G.I. Bill" for fossil fuel workers caught up in the transition to cleaner energy. Finally, he promised to work with Congress on a national fracking ban, similar to the state-wide ban he signed in Washington this year.</p><p><strong>3. "Holding Polluters Accountable"</strong></p><p>Inslee would work with Congress to create a "Climate Pollution Fee" that would start small and increase over time to incentivize a rapid transition to cleaner energy sources. The revenue would go to helping vulnerable communities adapt to the <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/climate-change" target="_self">climate crisis</a>, as well as funding environmental protections and economic development. He would also impose a "Carbon Duty" on imports from countries without strict climate laws. Inslee also pledged to enforce and strengthen existing environmental laws, and reverse <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/tag/donald-trump" target="_self">Trump administration</a> rollbacks, such the <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/clean-power-plan-trump-epa-2638927020.html" target="_self">newly-released replacement</a> for the Clean Power Plan that is more lenient on coal-plant emissions.</p><p><strong>4. "Rejecting New Fossil Fuel Infrastructure"</strong></p><p>Inslee would work with Congress to develop and apply a "Climate Test" to all new infrastructure projects. He would also direct federal agencies to reject oil and gas <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/tag/pipelines" target="_self">pipelines</a> that would contribute to global warming and harm the local environment, and withdraw permits from existing projects like the controversial <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/dakota-access-pipeline" target="_self">Dakota Access</a> and <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/keystone-xl" target="_self">Keystone XL</a> pipelines. The plan also outlines steps towards ending fossil fuel exports.</p><p><strong>5. "Improving Corporate Climate Transparency"</strong></p><p>Finally, Inslee would work to make sure corporations are accurately reporting their climate pollution and risk by taking measures to encourage the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to enforce rules requiring companies to disclose climate-related risks and reverse the more lax approach taken by the Trump administration. Inslee would also direct federal agencies to work towards avoiding a financial crisis driven by the climate crisis.</p>
<div id="a835a" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="U0LID31576661674"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1143213992522858496" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">My plan:
✅Ends coal production and fracking
✅Bans oil drilling on public lands and offshore
✅Puts an end to fossil… https://t.co/B3jxazURYW</div> — Jay Inslee (@Jay Inslee)<a href="https://twitter.com/JayInslee/statuses/1143213992522858496">1561398430.0</a></blockquote></div><p>Inslee's plan won approval from <a href="https://www.greenpeace.org/usa/" target="_blank">Greenpeace</a>, who called it "the most comprehensive to date to end the fossil fuel industry's stranglehold on our democracy and clear the way for a future built on clean, <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/renewable-energy/" target="_self">renewable energy</a>," according to The Hill.</p><p>"This is now the gold standard that all other candidates must meet if they hope to win over the millions of voters and young people demanding climate leadership from the next president," the organization said.</p><p>It is the latest climate-focused plan announced by Inslee, following his promise to shutter all coal plants by 2030, encourage clean energy construction and target anti-corruption laws at <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/tag/climate-denier" target="_self">climate deniers</a> abroad, as <a href="https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/jay-inslee-climate_n_5d103fece4b07ae90d9f72df" target="_blank">The Huffington Post reported</a>. But this latest plan focuses specifically on the <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/carbon-emissions-2456647136.html" target="_self">industry most responsible</a> for industrial greenhouse gas emissions.</p><p>"When you're in a hole, you have to stop digging," Inslee told The Huffington Post of his latest plan. "We have to stare the fossil fuel industry in the eye and say, 'The gravy train is over.'"</p><p>Inslee is polling at one or two percent against other Democratic primary contenders, The Hill reported, and The Huffington Post says his latest plan will likely not win over voters in fossil-fuel producing states. But it does come days after a <a href="https://climatecommunication.yale.edu/" target="_blank">Yale Program on Climate Change Communication</a> survey found that 57 percent of Americans think the fossil fuel industry owes owes a "great deal" or "moderate amount" in damages wrought by the climate crisis, The Huffington Post reported.</p>
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'Irresponsible and Outrageous': Trump DOE Redefines 'High-Level' Nuclear Waste to 'Low-Level' to Cut Corners on Disposal Costs
07 June 2019
Politics
The Savannah River Site in South Carolina is one of three Defense Reprocessing Waste Inventories where the Department of Energy will be reclassifying nuclear waste as safer than it has for decades. Savannah River Site / Flickr
By Julia Conley
In a move that will roll back safety standards that have been observed for decades, the Trump administration reportedly has plans to reclassify nuclear waste previously listed as "high-level" radioactive to a lower level, in the interest of saving money and time when disposing of the material.
<p>The Department of Energy (DOE) <a href="https://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-nuclear-waste-rule-20190605-story.html" target="_blank">plans to</a> observe a new interpretation of which nuclear waste qualifies as "high-level waste," which must be disposed of deep underground to avoid contaminating the surrounding environment. Under the new standards, radioactive materials at three nuclear sites will be classified as low-risk, enabling officials to dispose of the waste in shallow pits.</p><p>The Hanford Site in Washington state, the Savannah River Site in South Carolina, and the Idaho National Laboratory <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/trump-toxic-nuclear-weapons-waste-disposal-reclassify-1442573" target="_blank">all contain</a> millions of gallons of sludge and other waste following decades of use by the DOE, which reprocessed nuclear rods at the sites when the department was extracting plutonium for hydrogen bombs.</p><p>The DOE for decades classified any material that was created during reprocessing as high-level waste, but it will now label the sludge at the three sites as safe due to its level of radioactivity.</p><p>Under the new rules, the waste — which includes toxic and radioactive elements such as uranium and plutonium — can now be stored in shallow pits that may leak into the surrounding soil.</p><p>Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, who is running for the Democratic nomination in the 2020 presidential race, slammed the Trump administration for "unilaterally" deciding to potentially put Washington residents and their environment at risk, without consulting with the states in question — going against previous agreements between the states and the federal government.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Today the Trump Administration unilaterally changed the definition of waste stored at <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Hanford?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Hanford</a> and other nuclear waste sites nationwide, opening the door for the feds to walk away from cleaning up millions of gallons of toxic, radioactive waste. <a href="https://twitter.com/AGOWA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AGOWA</a> <a href="https://t.co/05FqduhDGc">https://t.co/05FqduhDGc</a></p>— Governor Jay Inslee (@GovInslee) <a href="https://twitter.com/GovInslee/status/1136339598202757121?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 5, 2019</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<p>"By taking this action, the administration seeks to cut out state input and move towards disposal options of their choosing, including those already deemed to be unsafe by their own assessments and in violation of the existing legally binding agreement," Inslee said in a <a href="https://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-nuclear-waste-rule-20190605-story.html" target="_blank">statement</a>. "We will consider all options to stop this reckless and dangerous action."</p><p>The Energy Department claims that downgrading the risk level of the sludge is necessary to allow for faster clean-up of the sites and to save money for the federal government — a claim which "flies in the face of sound science and judgment," according to Columbia Riverkeeper, a non-profit group which aims to protect Washington state's Columbia River.</p><p>"The Trump administration's attempt to cut corners with nuclear waste undermines effective, long-term cleanup at the Hanford Nuclear Site," <a href="https://www.nrdc.org/media/2019/190605-3" target="_blank">said</a> Lauren Goldberg, legal and program director at the organization. "People in the Pacific Northwest value clean water and strong salmon runs."</p><p>The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) called the DOE's move "irresponsible and outrageous."</p><p>"The Trump administration is moving to fundamentally alter more than 50 years of national consensus on how the most toxic and radioactive waste in the world is managed and ultimately disposed of," <a href="https://www.nrdc.org/media/2019/190605-3" target="_blank">said</a> Geoff Fettus, senior attorney at NRDC. "No matter what they call it, this waste needs a permanent, well-protected disposal option to guard it for generations to come."</p><p>At the Seattle-based newspaper The Stranger<em>,</em> Katie Herzog <a href="https://www.thestranger.com/slog/2019/06/06/40409900/department-of-energy-redefines-nuclear-waste-to-make-it-easier-to-dispose-of" target="_blank">wrote</a> that the DOE's action is the latest attempt by the Trump administration to "change the definition" of a problem to avoid addressing it effectively.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">If you've got a problem with radioactive waste, you could clean it up, a costly and onerous process, or you could just change the definition of it. Guess which one the Trump administration has decided to do?<a href="https://t.co/YzlfcZfIaz">https://t.co/YzlfcZfIaz</a></p>— The Stranger 🗞 (@TheStranger) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheStranger/status/1136696491802652673?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 6, 2019</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<p>Recently, the Trump administration has also sought to <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/05/07/big-attack-working-people-trump-moves-redefine-poverty-order-slash-social-programs" target="_blank">change </a>the official government definition of the poverty line to avoid paying for government benefits for struggling families, and the <a href="https://resist.org/news/trump-administration-%E2%80%98rolling-back-women%E2%80%99s-rights-50-years%E2%80%99-changing-definitions-domestic" target="_blank">definition of domestic violence</a> to limit the funds that go to agencies serving survivors.</p><p>Reclassifying dangerous elements, one critic wrote on social media, "doesn't mean it's going to make it any less harmful to the public."</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">John Oliver Explains America's Terrifying <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Nuclear?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Nuclear</a> Waste Problem <a href="https://t.co/mOPJ4Nt6bc">https://t.co/mOPJ4Nt6bc</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/iamjohnoliver?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@iamjohnoliver</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/nukes_of_hazard?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nukes_of_hazard</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/greenpeaceusa?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@greenpeaceusa</a></p>— EcoWatch (@EcoWatch) <a href="https://twitter.com/EcoWatch/status/899628345566126081?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 21, 2017</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<p><em>Reposted with permission from our media associate <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/06/06/alarm-trump-energy-dept-redefines-high-level-nuclear-waste-low-level-order-save?cd-origin=rss" target="_blank">Common Dreams</a>.</em><br/></p>From Your Site Articles
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'This Is an Emergency. We Need the Democrats to Act Like It': Outrage as DNC Says It Won't Host a 2020 Debate on Climate Crisis
06 June 2019
Politics
The youth-led Sunrise Movement staged a series of protests to demand lawmakers take urgent action on the climate crisis and back the Green New Deal. Photo: Sunrise Movement / Twitter
By Jake Johnson
Sparking a torrent of backlash from Democratic White House contenders, environmental organizations, and youth climate leaders, the Democratic National Committee announced Wednesday that it will not host a climate-specific presidential primary debate and will punish candidates who attend a debate hosted by any other organization.
<p>News of the DNC's decision was made public by 2020 presidential candidate and Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, who was the <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/04/17/petition-demanding-2020-democrats-hold-climate-debate-reaches-30000-signatures-just" target="_blank">first Democratic contender</a> to call for a debate focused solely on the climate crisis.</p><p>"Today, my team received a call from the Democratic National Committee letting us know that they will not host a climate debate," Inslee said in a statement. "Further, they explained that if we participated in anyone else's climate debate, we will not be invited to future debates. This is deeply disappointing."</p><p>Inslee said he will pressure the DNC leadership to change its mind, arguing that the climate emergency "merits a full discussion of our plans" rather than the "short exchange of talking points" typical of past presidential debates.</p><p>"The DNC is silencing the voices of Democratic activists, many of our progressive partner organizations, and nearly half of the Democratic presidential field, who want to debate the existential crisis of our time," Inslee said. "The next president must make defeating this crisis the top priority of the nation. And I will continue to do everything I humanly can to ensure the climate crisis is at the top of the national agenda."</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Democratic voters say that climate change is their top issue; the Democratic National Committee must listen to the grassroots of the party.</p>— Jay Inslee (@JayInslee) <a href="https://twitter.com/JayInslee/status/1136384082714120192?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 5, 2019</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<p>Environmental groups that have led the grassroots push for a climate-focused debate echoed Inslee's outrage, which helped make the Twitter hashtag <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23climatedebate&src=typeahead_click" target="_blank">#ClimateDebate</a> a <a href="https://twitter.com/usclimatestrike/status/1125530147694706693" target="_blank">trending topic</a> in the U.S.</p><p>U.S. Youth Climate Strike, whose <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/04/17/petition-demanding-2020-democrats-hold-climate-debate-reaches-30000-signatures-just" target="_blank">petition calling on the DNC</a> to host a climate debate has garnered over 53,000 signatures, vowed to "fight back" against the committee's refusal to give the planetary crisis the national spotlight it deserves.</p><p>"Disappointed to learn DNC will not honor the rallying cries of their own base, and will not only not host a climate debate, but will also ban any candidate who participates in one from participating in DNC debates," the group <a href="https://twitter.com/usclimatestrike/status/1136390572229500937" target="_blank">tweeted</a>. "Again and again, the establishment and adults have failed us. We need policy now."</p><p>Brandy Doyle, campaign manager for Credo Action, said in a statement Wednesday that the decision shows that DNC chairman "Tom Perez doesn't seem to care much about the climate crisis."</p><p>"[B]ut many of the Democratic candidates and a vast majority of Democratic primary voters do," Doyle said. "This move is a slap in the face to the hundreds of thousands of activists and all of the candidates calling on the DNC to hold a dedicated climate debate."</p><p>"It isn't too late for Tom Perez and other leaders at the DNC to come to their senses," Doyle added. "They'll find out soon enough that it is going to take a lot more than a quiet phone call to one campaign to silence the growing demands for a climate debate."</p><p>In what appeared to be an attempt to quell the backlash coming his way, Perez <a href="https://twitter.com/TomPerez/status/1136483452415565824" target="_blank">posted a series of tweets</a> just after midnight assuring enraged presidential candidates and climate campaigners that he has "personally told media partners seeking to host a 2020 primary debate how important it is for climate change to be debated during each and every debate."</p><p>"The DNC will not be holding entire debates on a single issue area — we want to make sure voters have the ability to hear from candidates on all the issues," said Perez. "You have my word that I will do everything I can to make sure our candidates are able to debate all of the critical issues during this primary."</p><p>Grassroots activists who have been working tirelessly to push serious climate discussion into the national political conversation have good reason to be skeptical of Perez's insistence that the DNC's corporate media partners will give the climate crisis the necessary amount of focus.</p><p>In a <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/04/29/call-it-crisis-new-report-details-failure-cable-and-network-outlets-accurately" target="_blank">report</a> published in April, Public Citizen found that corporate media networks have systematically failed to devote sufficient time to the climate crisis, which activists argue should — given the <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/05/06/ominous-un-report-warns-human-activity-has-pushed-one-million-plant-and-animal" target="_blank">existential threat</a> it poses — dominate the headlines on a daily basis.</p><p>The youth-led Sunrise Movement, which is <a href="https://theintercept.com/2019/05/13/sunrise-movement-calls-for-mass-climate-demonstration-outside-democratic-debate-in-detroit/" target="_blank">planning a massive action</a> outside of the second DNC debate in Detroit next month, urged all 2020 Democratic presidential candidates to "speak out against" the DNC's "disastrous decision" and pressure the committee to reverse course.</p><p>"This is an outrage. Almost every major candidate has supported the call for a climate debate, but the DNC won't even let the American people hear their plans for one of the greatest challenges of our time," Sunrise tweeted. "This is an emergency. We need the Democrats to act like it."</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">We hope that all candidates, especially those who joined us in calling for a <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ClimateDebate?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ClimateDebate</a>, will speak out against this disastrous decision and demand <a href="https://twitter.com/DNC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DNC</a> reconsider.<br><br>Cc: <a href="https://twitter.com/CoryBooker?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoryBooker</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/ewarren?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ewarren</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/BernieSanders?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BernieSanders</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/JulianCastro?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JulianCastro</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/SenGillibrand?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SenGillibrand</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/PeteButtigieg?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PeteButtigieg</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/amyklobuchar?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@amyklobuchar</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/JoeBiden?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JoeBiden</a> <a href="https://t.co/3gJkL31NIc">https://t.co/3gJkL31NIc</a></p>— Sunrise Movement 🌅 (@sunrisemvmt) <a href="https://twitter.com/sunrisemvmt/status/1136422209268965377?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 5, 2019</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<p>Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) quickly heeded Sunrise's call, <a href="https://twitter.com/ewarren/status/1136464330319376392" target="_blank">tweeting</a> late Wednesday that "Gov. Inslee is exactly right."</p><p>"Climate change is the biggest challenge we face," Warren wrote. "Every candidate running for president should have a serious set of policies to address it, and should be eager to defend those proposals in a debate."</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">4 Reasons Why We Need a <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Climate?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Climate</a> Debate <a href="https://t.co/K4DsJX2JmY">https://t.co/K4DsJX2JmY</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/DeSmogBlog?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DeSmogBlog</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/greenpeaceusa?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@greenpeaceusa</a></p>— EcoWatch (@EcoWatch) <a href="https://twitter.com/EcoWatch/status/1124056048057356289?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 2, 2019</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<p><em>Reposted with permission from our media associate <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/06/06/emergency-we-need-democrats-act-it-outrage-dnc-announces-it-will-not-host-2020?cd-origin=rss" target="_blank">Common Dreams</a>.</em></p>From Your Site Articles
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Inslee's 'Evergreen Economy Plan' Calls for $9 Trillion Investment in New Green Jobs, Would Help Fossil Fuel Workers Transition
17 May 2019
Politics
Gov. Jay Inslee (D-WA) testifies during a House Energy and Commerce Environment and Climate Change Subcommittee hearing on Capitol Hill on April 2 in Washington, DC. Zach Gibson / Getty Images
By Julia Conley
A new climate action plan put forth by Democratic presidential candidate Gov. Jay Inslee on Thursday is being praised for highlighting the enormous benefits that would result from a rapid shift in the U.S. to a renewable energy economy that centers on the needs of workers and vulnerable communities.
<p>Inslee <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/may/16/2020-jay-inslee-climate-change-plan" target="_blank">unveiled</a> his "Evergreen Economy Plan" at a press conference in Washington, DC, calling for a $9 trillion investment in green jobs over 10 years, which he said would create eight million well-paying jobs for Americans as the country mobilizes to create a carbon-neutral economy.</p><p>The green economy plan would create "high-paying, high-skilled jobs building a stronger, healthier, more just, inclusive and sustainable future," Inslee's 38-page proposal reads. It would also protect collective bargaining power for unions; ensure a "just transition" and jobs for <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/fossil-fuels" target="_self">fossil fuel</a> workers; and mandate employers follow guidelines for gender pay parity.</p><p>"Inslee is right to recognize that moving off fossil fuels isn't just imperative for our climate, it's a massive economic opportunity," said Charlie Jiang, a campaigner with Greenpeace USA. "We have the chance right now to create millions of new, family-sustaining jobs in the renewable energy economy, a chance our next president cannot afford to pass up. Most importantly, Inslee's plan recognizes that the workers being exploited by the fossil fuel industry and those on the frontlines of climate disasters should be the first to benefit."</p><p>"We are never shackled to the past," Inslee said at the press conference. "We are never shackled to the technologies of centuries ago. We always invent the future because it is in our nature to invent, to create, to build."</p><p>The governor also announced the plan in a video posted to social media.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">My Evergreen Economy Plan is a robust blueprint to defeat climate change while creating 8 million good union jobs, closing the gap in wealth and prosperity, and empowering workers of all races and genders. <a href="https://t.co/aQVnhHq0yK">pic.twitter.com/aQVnhHq0yK</a></p>— Jay Inslee (@JayInslee) <a href="https://twitter.com/JayInslee/status/1129048855419297792?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 16, 2019</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<p>"The proposal lays out a five-pronged strategy to launch an unprecedented deployment of renewable energy, fortify the nation's infrastructure to cope with climate change, spur a clean-tech manufacturing boom, increase federal research funding fivefold," Alexander Kaufman <a href="https://www.huffpost.com/entry/jay-inslee-jobs_n_5cdc8ae4e4b09648227aae06?3a" target="_blank">reported</a> at HuffPost<em>.</em></p><p>By spending $300 billion per year, the plan states, another $600 billion in economic activity will be generated.</p><p>The Evergreen Economy Plan builds on Inslee's first climate action proposal — the "100 Percent Clean Energy for America Plan" — which he unveiled earlier this month. The plan outlined how the governor would ensure all newly-built vehicles and buildings are carbon pollution-free by 2030 and that all utilities in the U.S. run with zero carbon emissions by 2035.</p><p>The earlier proposal was met with enthusiasm from climate action groups who <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/05/03/climate-campaigners-praise-gov-inslees-spirited-commitment-action-while-calling-2020" target="_blank">called on</a> Inslee to continue to "push the envelope." A number of campaigners applauded the Evergreen Economy Plan for doing just that.</p><p>350.org co-founder Bill McKibben praised the proposal as "really powerful and comprehensive."</p><p>"This charts a workable path forward," he <a href="https://twitter.com/billmckibben/status/1129017677563990016" target="_blank">tweeted</a>.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">This is an amazingly comprehensive, thoughtful, and inspiring climate plan. I want a world in which <a href="https://twitter.com/JayInslee?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JayInslee</a> is president! <a href="https://t.co/C8OSVDSdK4">https://t.co/C8OSVDSdK4</a></p>— Dr. Genevieve Guenther (@DoctorVive) <a href="https://twitter.com/DoctorVive/status/1129035769027399680?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 16, 2019</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">“Some people say we can’t have environmental justice and economic growth while defeating climate change. They are dead wrong”—<a href="https://twitter.com/JayInslee?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JayInslee</a> <br><br>With a <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GreenNewDeal?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GreenNewDeal</a>, we can. <a href="https://t.co/Ox4jxdvcSY">pic.twitter.com/Ox4jxdvcSY</a></p>— Sunrise Movement 🌅 (@sunrisemvmt) <a href="https://twitter.com/sunrisemvmt/status/1129031740981436416?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 16, 2019</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<p>Daniel Kammen, a contributor to the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) — which last year released a report warning that world governments must sharply reduce carbon emissions and shift toward renewable energy sources immediately, or the crisis will be irreversible by 2030 — also praised Thursday's plan.</p><p>"It is not only vital for our environment, but it is a recipe for more affordable housing and vibrant communities, good-paying jobs, corporate and municipal accountability, and global leadership for the United States," Kammen <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/05/16/%20https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/may/16/2020-jay-inslee-climate-change-plan" target="_blank">told</a> The Guardian<em>.</em></p><p>Earlier this week, progressives warned against climate action proposals like the one Joe Biden teased but has yet to unveil, <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/05/10/bidens-middle-road-climate-plan-condemned-stunningly-un-ambitious-and-death-sentence" target="_blank">described</a> by a Biden adviser as a "middle ground" policy plan. Inslee suggested such proposals have no place in the 2020 election, amid <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/tag/sea-level-rise" target="_self">rising sea levels</a> and more frequent <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/tag/extreme-weather" target="_self">extreme weather</a> events brought on by a warming globe.</p><p>"I have made a full-throated call for the mobilization of the U.S. economy to defeat this existential threat," Inslee told MSNBC after announcing his plan.</p><p>"When we have people in Iowa seeking high ground," he added, referring to the flooding aftermath he observed on a recent visit there, "we can't have a middle ground proposal."</p><p>Inslee alluded to the voters he met in Iowa when he introduced the proposal Thursday.</p><p>"It is time for the people of fire and flood to have a president who will stand up and protect them from the ravages of climate change and climate crisis," said Inslee.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Washington Governor Jay Inslee Launches Climate-Focused Presidential Bid <a href="https://t.co/wfuL2zoqw4">https://t.co/wfuL2zoqw4</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Fossilfuels?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Fossilfuels</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Renewableenergy?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Renewableenergy</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Greennewdeal?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Greennewdeal</a> <a href="https://t.co/krvozx5caS">pic.twitter.com/krvozx5caS</a></p>— Renewable Search (@RenewableSearch) <a href="https://twitter.com/RenewableSearch/status/1102659996645384192?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 4, 2019</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<p><em>Reposted with permission from our media associate <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/05/16/inslees-9-trillion-climate-plan-praised-showing-why-rapid-mobilization-massive?cd-origin=rss" target="_blank">Common Dreams</a>.</em><br/></p>From Your Site Articles
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Gov. Jay Inslee seen speaking during the Climate Strike at Columbia University in New York City. Michael Brochstein / SOPA Images / LightRocket / Getty Images
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee unveiled an ambitious clean energy plan Friday, the first major policy platform for his climate-change-focused 2020 campaign.
<p>Dubbed the "100 Percent Clean Energy for America Plan," the proposal would phase out <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/coal">coal</a> over the next decade, requiring all power production to be emissions-free by 2035. The plan also mandates that all new vehicles be electric and commercial buildings must meet a zero-carbon standard by 2030. </p><p>Inslee's proposal has garnered support from the Sunrise Movement, the driving youth force behind the <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/green-new-deal">Green New Deal</a>, which made headlines last week after offering an initial critique of fellow 2020 nominee Beto O'Rourke's <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/beto-orourke-climate-change-plan-2635911323.html">less ambitious climate action plan</a>.</p><p><strong>For a deeper dive:</strong></p><p>News: <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/03/us/politics/jay-inslee-climate-change.html" target="_blank">New York Times</a>, <a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/gov-inslees-national-climate-plan-calls-for-banning-sales-of-new-gas-powered-cars-by-2030/" target="_blank">Seattle Times</a>, <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/jay-inslee-unveils-climate-proposal-in-line-with-green-new-deal-11556907479" target="_blank">WSJ</a>, <a href="https://www.axios.com/jay-inslee-energy-plan-2020-presidential-election-8526cd41-c283-4116-b2a4-9837b3bfb50d.html" target="_blank">Axios</a>, <a href="https://news.vice.com/en_us/article/qv7k3p/jay-inslee-unveils-serious-climate-change-plan-days-after-blasting-betos" target="_blank">Vice</a>, <a href="https://earther.gizmodo.com/presidential-candidate-jay-inslee-proposes-shutting-dow-1834502590" target="_blank">Gizmodo</a>, <a href="https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/zahrahirji/jay-inslee-2020-climate-coal-retirement" target="_blank">Buzzfeed</a>, <a href="https://www.politico.com/story/2019/05/03/jay-inslee-climate-change-1299362" target="_blank">Politico</a></p><p>Sunrise: <a href="https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/442019-group-backing-green-new-deal-supports-inslee-climate-plan" target="_blank">The Hill</a></p><p><a href="https://climatenexus.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d1f5797e59060083034310930&id=c704e6d77e&e=992ed4d5cc" target="_blank"></a>Commentary: <a href="https://www.vox.com/energy-and-environment/2019/5/4/18527458/climate-change-jay-inslee-for-president-2020" target="_blank">Vox, David Roberts analysis</a></p><p><em>For more </em><a href="http://ecowatch.com/climate-change-news/" target="_blank"><em>climate change</em></a><em> and </em><a href="http://ecowatch.com/business/renewables/" target="_blank"><em>clean energy</em></a><em> news, you can follow Climate Nexus on </em><em><a href="https://twitter.com/ClimateNexus" target="_blank">Twitter</a> </em><em>and </em><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ClimateNexus/" target="_blank"><em>Facebook</em></a><em>, and sign up for daily </em><a href="http://climatenexus.us4.list-manage1.com/subscribe?u=d1f5797e59060083034310930&id=7c84c08aaa" target="_blank"><em>Hot News</em></a><em>.</em></p>
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Washington Gov. Proposes 'Herculean Effort' to Save 74 Remaining Southern Resident Orcas
14 December 2018
Animals
Southern Resident killer whale mother and her calf swimming. NOAA
With only 74 left in the wild, the Southern Resident orca population in Puget Sound needs help now more than ever. That's why on Thursday, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee's office announced "an unprecedented investment" to help boost the population as well as the Chinook salmon they eat.
"We are undertaking a herculean effort to save these iconic creatures. It will take action at every level of the environment across our entire state," Inslee said in a news release. "We need to restore the ecosystem to one that sustains orcas, salmon and the quality of life for all Washingtonians."
<p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="eff3a" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="WFXJO41576662601"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1073362594851782656" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">We are undertaking a herculean effort to save these iconic creatures. It will take action at every level of the env… https://t.co/bqhXtek1iq</div> — Governor Jay Inslee (@Governor Jay Inslee)<a href="https://twitter.com/GovInslee/statuses/1073362594851782656">1544744559.0</a></blockquote></div>
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The population of the beloved killer whales is at a 30-year low. Their plight was underscored this summer when a mother whale Tahlequah, or J35, carried her dead calf for at least seventeen days and 1,000 miles in her heartbreaking "tour of grief" this August.
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Then in September, the ailing J50, another member of Tahlequah's pod, was <a href="https://www.whaleresearch.com/j50" target="_blank">declared</a> missing and presumed dead after a three-day search in the waters between Washington state and Canada.
</p><p>
Inslee's orca recovery plan is part of his 2019–21 state budget, which proposes about $1.1 billion in combined investments to address the main problems faced by the critically
<a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/endangered-species" target="_self">endangered</a> killer whales: a lack of salmon; <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/orca-whale-lulu-pcbs-scotland-2390741690.html" target="_self">toxic contaminants</a>; and vessel traffic and noise.
</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="f484e" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="XXOUU01576662601"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1041008870548795392" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">#Orca Whale #J50 'Missing and Now Presumed Dead' https://t.co/dLEFpXP6hB @NOAA @CWROrcas @oceana</div> — EcoWatch (@EcoWatch)<a href="https://twitter.com/EcoWatch/statuses/1041008870548795392">1537030830.0</a></blockquote></div>
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Much of the investment will go towards improving the diets of Southern Resident orcas, which mostly eat Chinook salmon. But the salmon's numbers are <a href="https://www.epa.gov/salish-sea/chinook-salmon" target="_blank">down 60 percent</a> and if they continue to decline, the orca population will too.
</p><p>
For that reason, Inslee's proposed budget will provide $363 million in the capital budget for salmon recovery, culvert removal, water quality and water supply projects that will expand and improve salmon survival across the state.
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Other proposals include a ban on commercial whale-watching of the Southern Residents for three years, increasing the distance boats must stay away from the orcas from the current federal rules of 200 yards to 400 yards, reducing risks of catastrophic oil spills, and removal and prevention of toxic contaminants in the waters. The money will also go towards scientific research and monitoring efforts.
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<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xOTAwMzM1NC9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY0MjI0ODc4OH0.dmKkXG52mrVw5GgCRnu88De6EnU4yciJrDDn_YSoR5U/img.png?width=980" id="0201c" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="63b6536da427408d8ea0e8088e60f9e6" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image">
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Inslee's orca recovery plan follows recommendations issued this fall by the governor's Southern Resident Orca Task Force. The
<a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/orcas-gov-orders-protections-2547956591.html" target="_self">task force</a> recommended an initial target of increasing the population to 84 orcas over the next decade.
</p><p>
<span></span>Tax increases will be needed to pay for Inslee's plan, the <a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/environment/gov-jay-inslee-wants-1-1-billion-to-help-save-puget-sounds-critically-endangered-orcas/" target="_blank">The Seattle Times</a> reported.
</p><p>
The Democratic governor, who is "<a href="https://www.politico.com/story/2018/10/01/inslee-iowa-2020-856801" target="_blank">not ruling out</a>" 2020 run for president, is a strong <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/us-climate-alliance-2487955480.html" target="_self">climate and environmental advocate</a>. Saving the orcas will require the sacrifices of the state residents to help the imperiled orcas, he told the Times.
</p><p>
"Everybody is involved in this mission and everyone has to be for it to succeed," Inslee added. "These expenditures have to be done now. There are lots of things in life you can put off for a decade. This is not one of them … This is a one-time shot."
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