Aerial assessment of Hurricane Sandy damage in Connecticut. Dannel Malloy / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
Extreme weather events supercharged by climate change in 2012 led to nearly 1,000 more deaths, more than 20,000 additional hospitalizations, and cost the U.S. healthcare system $10 billion, a new report finds.
<p>The study, published Tuesday in the journal GeoHealth, looks at the health impacts of 10 climate-related events across 11 states that year, including Superstorm Sandy, Lyme disease outbreaks in Michigan, extreme heat in Wisconsin, and wildfires in Colorado. Two-thirds of the costs from these events were paid for by Medicare and Medicaid. </p><p>"There is a real cost in terms of human health," study author Wendy Max told reporters Wednesday. "Our study is the first to put a price tag on these costs, [but] this is just the tip of the iceberg—we know this is an underestimate." (</p><p><strong>For a deeper dive:</strong> </p><p><a href="https://climatenexus.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d1f5797e59060083034310930&id=11abece965&e=0afd421a28" target="_blank">Earther</a>, <a href="https://climatenexus.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d1f5797e59060083034310930&id=0be8bd3d03&e=0afd421a28" target="_blank">NJ Spotlight</a>, <a href="https://climatenexus.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d1f5797e59060083034310930&id=364dea14c6&e=0afd421a28" target="_blank">Bloomberg Quint</a>, <a href="https://climatenexus.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d1f5797e59060083034310930&id=237d69fda3&e=0afd421a28" target="_blank">Carbon Brief, Vijay Limaye and Wendy Max 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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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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For many people, the holidays are rich with time-honored traditions like decorating the Christmas tree, lighting the menorah, caroling, cookie baking, and sipping from the unity cup. But there's another unofficial, official holiday tradition that spans all ages and beliefs and gives people across the world hope for a better tomorrow: the New Year's resolution.
<p>It's believed that ancient Babylonians were the <a href="https://www.cnet.com/health/the-history-of-new-years-resolutions-and-celebrations/#:~:text=4%2C000%20years%20ago%20in%20Babylon%20(around%202000%20B.C.)&text=Most%20historians%20believe%20Babylonians%20were,accordance%20with%20an%20agricultural%20year." target="_blank">first people to make New Year's resolutions</a> some 4,000 years ago. Over time, the popular practice shifted in scope from making promises to the gods about repaying debt to making promises to ourselves about self-improvement. Anyone who has ever made a New Year's resolution probably included something like get more sleep or be less stressed. And though it might not immediately come to mind when you brainstorm strategies for reaching your New Year's goals, it turns out that chamomile tea could be the answer for many of them. </p><p>If you've ever asked yourself why everyone is drinking chamomile tea, we've got the answer here. Read on to learn some of the reasons why this herbal beverage is all the rage.</p>
<p><em>Josh Hall has been a professional writer and storyteller for more than 15 years. His work on natural health and cannabis has appeared in Health, Shape, and Remedy Review.</em></p>
Benefits of Chamomile Tea
<p><strong>Sleep More Soundly</strong></p><p>Pick your grandmother's brain about the best way to fall asleep, and she might tell you to down a nice glass of warm milk. But if you consult with science, research shows that chamomile might be a better option. That's because it contains an antioxidant called apigenin, which can <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2995283/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">promote sleepiness and reduce insomnia and other sleep problems</a>.</p><p>Two research studies even confirmed the power of chamomile throughout the day and before bed. In one of those studies, postpartum women who drank chamomile for two weeks <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26483209" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">experienced better sleep quality than the control group who didn't</a>. Another research effort measured how fast people could fall asleep. Those results illustrated that participants who consumed 270 milligrams of chamomile extract twice daily for 28 days <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3198755/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">fell asleep 15 minutes faster than the control</a>. The chamomile group also had considerably fewer sleep disruptions. </p><p><strong>May Be Able to Keep Your Gut Healthy</strong></p><p>Though the following studies used rats as the subjects, research shows that chamomile can potentially play a beneficial role in digestive health. According to that research, the anti-inflammatory properties in <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24463157" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">chamomile extract may be able to protect against diarrhea</a>. Additionally, chamomile may be an effective way to <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4177631/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">stop the growth of bacteria in our stomachs that contribute to ulcers</a>.</p><p><strong>Reduces Stress and Anxiety</strong></p><p>Few things are more relaxing than curling up with a good cup of tea, so it's logical that chamomile tea can serve a stress reducer. While it lacks the potency of a pharmaceutical drug, long-term use of chamomile has been shown to <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27912875" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">"significantly" reduce general anxiety disorders</a>. In general, chamomile can act almost like a sedative, and many people enjoy the tea because it puts them in a calm and relaxed state almost immediately. </p><p><strong>Boosts Immune Health</strong></p><p>Vitamin C and zinc are common over-the-counter supplements that people often turn to when they're hoping to avoid becoming sick. While scientists admit that more research must take place to prove chamomile's impact on preventing ailments like the common cold, the existing studies do show promise in this area. </p><p>One study had 14 participants drink five cups of the tea every day for two consecutive weeks. Throughout the study, researchers collected daily urine samples and tested the contents before and after the consumption of the tea. Drinking chamomile resulted in a significant increase in the levels of hippurate and glycine, <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2995283/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">both of which are known to increase antibacterial activity</a>. Inhaling steam from a pot of freshly brewed chamomile tea may also ease the symptoms of nasal congestion.</p><p><strong>Minimizes Menstrual Cramps</strong></p><p>This one may come as a surprise, particularly to readers who have tried every possible over-the-counter treatment to reduce period pain. Several research studies have proven that chamomile tea may be able to minimize the pain and cramps that occur during menstruation. Women in that same study also dealt with lower levels of anxiety that they typically felt because of menstrual cramps.</p><p><strong>Help Diabetes and Lower Blood Sugar</strong></p><p>For people with diabetes, regulating blood sugar levels can be a matter of life or death. And while chamomile will never replace prescription-strength drugs, it's believed that it can prevent an increase in blood sugar. A 2008 study on rats showed that chamomile could have a <a href="https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/jf8014365" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">moderate impact on the long-term risk of diabetes</a>.</p><p><strong>Might Improve Your Skin</strong></p><p>Ever wondered why there's been an influx of chamomile-infused cosmetic products? The reason why so many manufacturers now include chamomile in their lotions, soaps, and creams is because it <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5074766/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">acts as an anti-inflammatory on our skin</a>. That means it may be able to soothe the puffiness that plagues us as we age. Those same anti-inflammatory properties can be vital in restoring skin health after we've received a sunburn. </p><p>Before discarding your used chamomile tea bags, try chilling them and placing them over your eyes. Not only will this help with the puffiness, but it can drastically light the skin color around the eye.</p><p><strong>Help With Heart Health</strong></p><p>Some of the most beneficial antioxidants we put into our bodies are what are known as flavones, and chamomile tea is chock full of them. Flavones have the potential to lower both blood pressure and cholesterol levels, which, when elevated, <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4814348/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">can lead to heart disease</a>.</p>Why Everyone Is Drinking Chamomile Tea
<p>Now that you know so much about the wonders of chamomile, it shouldn't come as a surprise why the tea is so popular with people of all ages. In addition to tasting great, chamomile offers up benefits that boost the health of body parts both inside and out. As you ponder your own New Year's resolutions, think about how healthy and natural vitamins, supplements, plants, and oils can help guide you on your own personal path to improvement. Happy New Year!</p>An Organic, Eco-Conscious Brand to Try
<div class="rm-shortcode amazon-assets-widget" data-rm-shortcode-id="0da9d8545ec44ebf1a31d6044181ed9e" contenteditable="false"> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07N2F8718?tag=ecowatch-20&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1" target="_blank"> <img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41B2ANHhsdL.jpg" class="amazon-assets-widget__image widget__image"> </a> </div> <p>FGO tea bags are made of hemp fiber paper, free of dyes, adhesive, glue, and chlorine bleach. The tea is also certified USDA Organic by California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF).</p>From Your Site Articles
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People in New York City participated in a protest with climate activist group Extinction Rebellion on April 17. Stephanie Keith / Getty Images
By Jessica Corbett
The global climate crisis and Medicare for All are top issues for a large majority of Democratic voters, according to new polling results published Tuesday by CNN.
<p>The <a href="http://cdn.cnn.com/cnn/2019/images/04/29/rel6a.-.2020.democrats.pdf" target="_blank">survey</a>, conducted last week, asked Democrats and left-leaning Independents how important they considered certain policy items.</p>
<p>Most people polled said it is somewhat or very important that the Democratic candidate for president in 2020 support party priorities like stricter gun laws, tuition-free public college, impeaching President Donald Trump, paying reparations to slaves' descendants, and restoring voting rights for all convicted felons.</p><p>But two issues stood out at the top.</p><p>Ninety-six percent of respondents want whichever Democrat runs for the White House to support "taking aggressive action to slow the effects of climate change."</p><p>In the second spot, 91 percent want the candidate to back "providing health insurance for all Americans through the government, a plan sometimes called 'Medicare for All.'"</p>
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xOTQzNjE2OC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY1MjQxNzY1N30.YlDJq58MMlhFun75Ujg00x9Y4TeT9ZcaExyAavpqX38/img.jpg?width=980" id="74b15" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="dc263028bd1b84ab70f863df9d1fbb89" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />
<p>Advocates for bold and urgent climate action celebrated the polling results, which Dan Fagin, who directs the Science, Health, and Environmental Reporting Program (SHERP) at New York University, <a href="https://twitter.com/danfagin/status/1123300378362228736" target="_blank">called</a> "truly astonishing, and very encouraging."</p><p>"People are waking up!" <a href="https://twitter.com/billmckibben/status/1123253052633276416" target="_blank">tweeted</a> Bill McKibben, co-founder of 350.org.</p><p>The CNN survey follows recent polling that showed Americans <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/01/22/americans-increasingly-bear-real-costs-climate-crisis-polls-show-soaring-realization" target="_blank">are increasingly worried</a> about the consequences of the human-caused climate crisis. Some observers Tuesday <a href="https://twitter.com/drvox/status/1123276748664082432" target="_blank">credited</a> activists and politicians such as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) for elevating the issue. Congress is considering the Green New Deal resolution, introduced in February by Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) — and the youth-led Sunrise Movement is in the middle of a <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/04/18/warren-markey-and-pressley-join-launch-sunrise-movements-250-city-road-green-new" target="_blank">nationwide tour</a> to promote the measure.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/CNN?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CNN</a> poll out today. 82% of Dem voters say it's very important for Pres candidate to talk about aggressive climate action.<br><br>If politicians want to be taken seriously on it, they've got to back the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GreenNewDeal?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GreenNewDeal</a> + sign <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NoFossilFuelMoney?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NoFossilFuelMoney</a> pledge. <a href="https://t.co/VRWWCGs7oK">pic.twitter.com/VRWWCGs7oK</a></p>— Sunrise Movement 🌅 (@sunrisemvmt) <a href="https://twitter.com/sunrisemvmt/status/1123227357375082496?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 30, 2019</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<p>CNN's poll also comes amid mounting demands for the federal government to scrap the current healthcare system that prioritizes corporate profits over patients, and establish in its place a nationwide single-payer system. As the results were published Tuesday, the Democratically controlled House Rules Committee <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/04/30/stop-what-youre-doing-and-watch-applause-and-gratitude-ady-barkans-emotional" target="_blank">held</a> an historic hearing about the Medicare for All Act of 2019, which was introduced by Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) and is now backed by more than 100 other House Democrats.</p><p>The survey was not solely focused on policy. It also asked respondents which <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/us/politics/2020-presidential-candidates.html" target="_blank">candidates</a> for the 2020 Democratic presidential primary they want to receive the nomination. Thirty-nine percent of respondents said former Vice President Joe Biden; 15 percent said Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.); 8 percent said Sen. Elizabeth Warren (Mass.); 7 percent said Pete Buttigieg, mayor of South Bend, Indiana; 6 percent said former Texas Congressman Beto O'Rourke; and 5 percent said Sen. Kamala Harris (Calif.).</p><p>Some critics <a href="https://twitter.com/JordanChariton/status/1123304795727638528" target="_blank">challenged</a> the accuracy of the polling results — particularly regarding which candidates have the greatest support among voters — because of its "undersampling" of people aged 18 to 49.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Yale Poll: Climate Change ‘Personally Important’ to Record Number of Americans <a href="https://t.co/NXwcOFkEgD">https://t.co/NXwcOFkEgD</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Extremeweather?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Extremeweather</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Wildfires?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Wildfires</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Hurricanes?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Hurricanes</a> <a href="https://t.co/n9NY1q8YZF">pic.twitter.com/n9NY1q8YZF</a></p>— Renewable Search (@RenewableSearch) <a href="https://twitter.com/RenewableSearch/status/1088063833711624192?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 23, 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/2019/04/30/more-90-democratic-voters-want-2020-candidate-make-climate-action-and-medicare-all" target="_blank">Common Dreams</a>.</em></p>From Your Site Articles
- 81% of Voters Support a Green New Deal, Survey Finds - EcoWatch ›
- 9 Out of 10 States Most at Risk From Climate Change Voted for Trump ›
- Biden-Sanders Unity Task Forces Unveil Improved Climate Policy - EcoWatch ›
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Sen. Bernie Sanders speaks at a Martin Luther King Jr. Day event in South Carolina on Jan. 21. Sean Rayford / Getty Images
Independent Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders announced Tuesday that he will run for president in 2020, becoming the latest candidate in a crowded Democratic primary field to promise a Green New Deal if elected, The Washington Post reported.
<p>"I'm running for president because we need to make policy decisions based on science, not politics," Sanders wrote in an email to supporters announcing his decision. "We need a president who understands that <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/climate-change" target="_self">climate change</a> is real, is an existential threat to our country and the entire planet, and that we can generate massive job creation by transforming our energy system away from <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/fossil-fuels" target="_self">fossil fuels</a> to energy efficiency and sustainable energy."</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-youtube">
<span style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="1e60dafadc13bb7a6f6531fe5fbe1197"><iframe type="lazy-iframe" data-runner-src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/s7DRwz0cAt0?rel=0" width="100%" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe></span>
<small class="image-media media-caption" placeholder="Add Photo Caption...">I'm Running For President</small>
<small class="image-media media-photo-credit" placeholder="add photo credit...">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7DRwz0cAt0" target="_blank">www.youtube.com</a>
</small>
</p><p>In addition to a Green New Deal, Sanders is also running on a platform of Medicare for All, a $15-an-hour minimum wage, tuition-free college and university, criminal justice reform, paid family leave and gender pay equity and breaking up the largest Wall Street banks, among other proposals, aides to the senator told The Washington Post.<br></p><p>Sanders brought many of these ideas, including more aggressive climate action, to national attention when he ran against Hillary Clinton in the 2016 primary. However, since his first run, the ideas he championed have gained steam and many other 2020 Democratic candidates have embraced them, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/feb/19/bernie-sanders-announces-2020-run-presidency" target="_blank">The Guardian noted</a>.</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="09a17" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="RXS6151578068161"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1097870478293766145" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">2015: Bernie Sanders policy platform is naive, idealistic, not pragmatic, not realistic.
2019: Bernie Sanders poli… https://t.co/wLTputpma8</div> — Waleed Shahid (@Waleed Shahid)<a href="https://twitter.com/_waleedshahid/statuses/1097870478293766145">1550587694.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p><p>His success may therefore hinge on whether or not he is still the best mouthpiece for the ideas he helped popularize, as <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/19/us/politics/bernie-sanders-2020.html" target="_blank">The New York Times explained</a>:<br></p><blockquote>Victories in the 2018 midterm election by women, minorities and first-time candidates also suggest that many Democrats may prefer fresh energy, something that skeptics believe Mr. Sanders could struggle to deliver. A 77-year-old whose left-wing message has remained largely unchanged in his decades-long career, Mr. Sanders will also need to improve his support from black voters and quell the unease about his campaign's treatment of women that has been disclosed in recent news accounts, and that has prompted two public apologies.</blockquote><p>When it comes to the environment specifically, 2020 contenders California Sen. Kamala Harris, New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker, New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren and former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julián Castro have voiced support for a Green New Deal.<br></p><p>However, Sanders' proposal will be slightly different from the Green New Deal resolution developed by Democratic Representative <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/alexandria-ocasio-cortez" target="_self">Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez</a>, who <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2018/06/27/politics/who-is-alexandria-ocasio-cortez/index.html" target="_blank">worked as an organizer</a> for Sanders' 2016 primary campaign. Sanders' full plan should be released in the next few months, The Washington Post reported, explaining the difference between the two: </p><blockquote>The upcoming Sanders plan is expected to contain significantly more details on how a Green New Deal would move America's economy to one that zeroes out carbon emissions, according to aides to the Senator, while the Ocasio-Cortez resolution supported by the other 2020 candidates mostly laid out ambitious targets for carbon reduction.</blockquote><p>In 2016, Sanders promoted a carbon tax and a plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent by 2030, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/dec/07/bernie-sanders-urges-carbon-tax-and-deeper-emissions-cuts-in-climate-plan" target="_blank">The Guardian reported at the time</a>. </p><p>The re-election campaign for President <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/donald-trump" target="_blank">Donald Trump</a> is already planning to use the popularity of Sanders' democratic socialist platform as a rallying point, The Guardian reported.</p><p>"Bernie Sanders has already won the debate in the Democrat primary, because every candidate is embracing his brand of socialism," Trump 2020 campaign spokeswoman Kayleigh McEnany said in a statement reported by The Guardian. "But the American people will reject an agenda of sky-high tax rates, government-run health care and coddling dictators like those in Venezuela. Only President Trump will keep America free, prosperous and safe."</p><p>Sanders, for his part, roundly criticized Trump in his announcement, calling him the "most dangerous president in modern history." However, Sanders also noted that his campaign was larger than defeating one person. </p><p>"Our campaign is about transforming our country and creating a government based on the principles of economic, social, racial and environmental justice," he wrote.</p>
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