Bernie Sanders (Senator- Vermont)à 87/100 A
Greenpeace.org and berniesanders.com
Agreed to No Fossil Fuel pledge: no campaign donations from fossil fuel companies
Implement 10-20-30 legislation to ensure new federal funds are directed to Indian Counties in healthcare, job opportunities, and housing
Creation of another Federal Power Marketing Administration to cover uncovered states (6 total) to deliver 100% renewable energy for electricity by 2030
$40 Billion dollar Climate Justice resiliency plan
Created a climate policy plan that expands upon existing Green New Deal plans and includes:
Prosecution for oil and gas corporations
Banning fracking and mountaintop removal
Invest 16.3 trillion dollars in climate related solutions: specifically to include historically oppressed black, brown and indigenous communities
Redistribute funds from military budget and a higher corporate tax to fund plan
Co-sponsored a variety of climate and climate response related bills such as:
Res.59: Green New Deal (2019)
987: 100% renewable by 2050 act in Congress (2017)
750: Keep in the Ground act- prohibits the creation of new leases for oil, gas, drilling etc along any coast (2017)
1996: Environmental Justice Act (2017)
1041: End Polluter Welfare act- Ends royalties for oil and natural gas companies drilling on the outer coast (2015)
1487: bill to require 100% zero emission vehicles by 2040 (2019)
Elizabeth Warren (Senator- Massachusetts)à84/100 A-
Greenpeace.org and elizabethwarren.com
Agreed to No Fossil Fuel pledge: no campaign donations from fossil fuel companies
Original supporter of green new deal
Co-sponsored a variety of climate and climate response related bills such as:
Res.59: Green New Deal (2019)
750: Keep in the Ground act- prohibits the creation of new leases for oil, gas, drilling etc along any coast (2017)
1996: Environmental Justice Act (2017)
3064: Workers Freedom to Negotiate Act (2018)
Aims to pass executive orders to force publicly traded companies to disclose the “likely effect on the company if climate change continues at its current pace and the likely effect on the company if the world successfully restricts greenhouse gas emissions to meet the targets of the Paris Agreement”
2 trillion dollar investment in green manufacturing and clean energy research
10-year plan to achieve 100% clean energy for America via decarbonization of the economy through 400 billion dollar investment in R&D over 10-years
Require 100% carbon-neutral power by 2030 for Utilities
“the Pentagon should achieve net zero carbon emissions for all its non-combat bases and infrastructure by 2030.”
DOD contracts for private military contractors comes with the caveat that contractors who have not reached the net zero by 2030 goal will pay a fee of 1% of the value of their contract to fund making a more resilient military
Cory Booker (Senator- New Jersey)à82.5/100 A-
Greenpeace.org, U.S Senate Press Release Sept. 10th, and corybooker.com
Agreed to No Fossil Fuel pledge: no campaign donations from fossil fuel companies
Eliminates Fossil Fuel Subsidies, bars new leases, phases out fracking
Achieve 100% carbon free electricity by 2030
Introduced the Climate Stewardship Act (2019): S Senate Press Release
“Proposal calls for funding voluntary farm stewardship on >100 million acres, planting >15 billion trees, restoring >2 million acres of coastal wetlands”
Reestablish the Civilian Conservation Corps and provide 10s of billions of dollars for USDA working land conservation programs focused on stewardship practices including rotational grazing, improved fertilizer efficiency, and planting cover crops.
“Restore or protect over 2 million acres of coastal wetlands by 2030 to sequester carbon emissions and reduce coastal flooding.”
Co-sponsored a variety of climate and climate response related bills such as:
Res.59: Green New Deal
750: Keep in the Ground act- prohibits the creation of new leases for oil, gas, drilling etc along any coast (2017)
1996: Environmental Justice Act (2017)
987: 100% renewable by 2050 act in Congress (2017)
828: prohibits seismic testing for Atlantic offshore drilling (2017)
991: Stop artic drilling act of (2017)
3064: Workers Freedom to Negotiate Act (2018)
Passenger vehicles after 2030 must be zero emission
Creation of an Environmental Justice Fund seeded with $50 billion a year
Hold corporation integrators legally responsible for the harm caused by CAFOs; especially to low-income communities
Triple Superfund tax on chemical and oil companies to pay for spills
Carbon Neutral economy by 2045, facilitated by a carbon fee on fossil fuel companies(carbon tax)
Kamala Harris (Senator- California)à72.5/100 B+
Greenpeace.org and kamalaharris.org
Agreed to No Fossil Fuel pledge: no campaign donations from fossil fuel companies
By 2030: all new buildings will be carbon neutral, electricity will be 100% carbon neutral, all New buses, heavy-duty vehicles, and fleets will be zero emission, carbon neutral economy by 2045
Announced the Climate Equity Act: to ensure all communities will take part in the benefits of a cleaner economy; creates an independent office of Environmental Justice and Accountability
Co-sponsored a variety of climate and climate response related bills such as:
Res.59: Green New Deal
1996: Environmental Justice Act (2017)
1487: bill to require 100% zero emission vehicles by 2040 (2019)
999: Anti-Drilling Act (2017)
991: Stop artic drilling act of (2017)
1710: Close Big Oil Tax Loophole Act (2017)
Introduced Living Shorelines Act: (2018)
3064: Workers Freedom to Negotiate Act (2018)
Water Justice Act: Declares a Drinking Water infrastructure emergency and invests $250 billion over 5 years to repair, replace, and install new infrastructure
Creation of a climate pollution fee on big time emitters that progressively increases
Introduce funding for electricity infrastructure projects through creation of a “green bank”
Creation of 21st Century Skills act to help workers currently unemployed, displaced, or dislocated get $8000 for assistance in skills training related to a cleaner economy
$60 Billion plan to boost STEM programs at Historically Black and Brown Universities
Joe Biden (Former VP and Senator Delaware)à72/100 B+
Joebiden.com and Greenpeace.org
100% clean energy economy and net zero emissions by 2050
Redistribute Oil company tax incentives to solar and renewable energy companies
Federal investment of $1.7 trillion over the next 10 years; leveraged with additional private sector, state and local investments to total $5 trillion
Reversing corporate tax cuts under Trump
1998 Champion of Tropical Forest Act
Conserving $30 percent of America’s Natural Lands and Waters by 2030
Double offshore wind energy production by 2030 and ban oil, drilling, and fracking on public lands
Investment of $400 Billion over 10 years in R&D
Restore electric vehicle tax credit
Expand America’s high speed rail network
Embrace the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol to curb the release of Hydrofluorocarbons
Create a Clean Energy Export and Climate Investment Initiative.
Creation of a new Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA-C) specifically focused on climate with goals to:
Small modular nuclear reactors at half construction costs
Zero net energy buildings at zero net cost
Use renewables to produce hydrogen at same cost as shale gas
Julián Castro (Former Secretary of Housing)à68.5/100 B
Greenpeace.org and issue.juliancastro.org
Net zero emissions by 2045 and at least %50 percent reduction by 2030
Electrical power to be carbon neutral by 2030 and clean, renewable and zero emission by 2035, vehicle fleets and new buildings are all zero emission by 2030
End taxpayer subsidies of fossil fuels and end drilling and fracking on public lands
Establishment of a National Climate Council to coordinate federal government climate action
Require by law all federal actions to be review for environmental and health impacts on marginalized communities
Reinstate and increase the Superfund tax to hold polluters accountable for their environmental harm
$50 billion dollar investment in removing lead as a public health threat
Creation of new “Climate” refugee category for accepting immigrants
Creation of a $200 billion dollar green infrastructure fund
Natural Infrastructure revolving fund with $50 billion in capital over 10 years to support wetland restoration, soil conservation, reforestation, mangrove and living barrier systems
Announced the Climate Equity Act: to ensure all communities will take part in the benefits of a cleaner economy; creates an independent office of Environmental Justice and Accountability
Public support of investment in clean energy notably solar and defunding coal plants while serving as San Antonio Mayor
Expanding post flood and natural disaster federal buyout programs
Pete Buttgieg (Mayor South Bend, Indiana)à66/100 B
Greenpeace.org and peteforamerica.org
Agreed to No Fossil Fuel pledge: no campaign donations from fossil fuel companies
Creation of price on carbon and use revenue to fund green transition
Investment of $200 Billion over 10 years in clean energy R&D
Creation of Regional Resilience Hubs with $5 billion a year funding in Resilient America Grants to support resilient infrastructure
Creation of a Natural Catastrophic Disaster Insurance program
Creation of a senior climate security role in the Department of Defense to better help the military prepare for future risks of climate change
Clean Energy Victory Plan on day 1 in office
Goals by year including:
2025- double clean energy production
2035- clean electricity zero emissions program and zero emission passenger vehicles
2040- zero emission New buses, heavy-duty vehicles, rails, ships, and aircrafts and a carbon removal economy
2050-Achieve net zero emissions from industry
Creation of 3 investment funds to spur clean innovation:
$250 Billion American Clean Bank: to fund local energy projects
$250 Billion Global Investment Initiative: for harnessing American innovation globally and counter China’s Belt and Road
$50 Billion American Cleantech Fund: for demonstration projects
Issue U.S Climate Action bonds
Establishment of a national Clean Energy Standard (CES) setting national standards for electricity generation while letting state and local authorities reach goals
Beto O’Rourke (House Rep. Texas )à60.5/100 B-
Greenpeace.org, Washington Post Climate Survey, scorecard.lcv.org and betoorourke.com
Agreed to No Fossil Fuel pledge: no campaign donations from fossil fuel companies and Net Zero emissions by 2050
Day 1 reduce methane leakage from natural gas facilities and phase our hydrofluorocarbons
Setting a net zero by 2030 carbon emissions standard for federal lands and stop oil royalties and drilling permits on public lands
Mobilization of 5 trillion dollars over 10 years:
Beginning with $1.5 trillion in federal investment
$1 trillion in “performance based” tax incentives for R$D innovation
$3 trillion in existing financial institutions such as the Rural Utility service and a new finance authority on the green transition
Invest $1.2 trillion in federal grants for affordable housing, small businesses, farming and ranching, transportation, and public health among others
Set a legally enforceable precedent in his first 100 days ensuring we reach carbon neutrality by 2050
Increase 10-fold spending on pre-disaster mitigation grants and supporting efforts to incentivize more resilient evidence-based risk reduction measures
Limit or regulate, not ban fracking: Washington Post Climate Survey
$250 Billion in grants for Research and Development in national labs , public, private, and land grant universities
Received a %94 pro-environment score from the League of Conservation Votes for his various por-environment decisions in 2018: lcv.org
Andrew Yang (Entrepreneur )à47/100 C+
Greenpeace.org and yang2020.com
Agreed to No Fossil Fuel pledge: no campaign donations from fossil fuel companies
“Ban anyone who serves in my administration from lobbying for a period of time after they leave their position.”
$4.87 Trillion investment over 20 years that includes yet is not limited to:
$50 Billion investment in clean, safe nuclear power over 5 years with thorium
$285.5 Billion invested in sustainable agricultural, forestry, and land methods over 15 years
$200 billion invested in grid modernization over 15 years
$800 billion invested in geoengineering research methods i.e. Carbon Capture
$3 trillion to finance loans for household investments in renewable energy over 20 years
Ends subsidization of oil companies through royalties or tax breaks, and corporations valued over $1 billion must fill environmental impact reports
Carbon Fee and dividend program that:
Sets an initial carbon tax of $40/ton, which would increase in regular intervals of $5/ton for the first 4 years and then $10/ton until it hits $100/ton.
Creates a border carbon adjustment to protect American goods that would:
Charge a fee on imports from countries that don’t impose a similar carbon fee, or some type of carbon tax.
Provide a rebate on exports to countries that don’t impose a similar carbon fee, or some type of carbon tax.
Dedicate at least half of the money raised through the fee to dividends specifically designed to help Americans afford transitions to sustainable energy sources and vehicles.
$10 billion dollars in debt forgiveness for rural electric co-ops to transition to renewable energy sources
Expand the measure of the GDP to include measurements of: Environmental quality and sustainability, Affordability of energy costs, Childhood success rates, Environment-related health outcomes, Quality of infrastructure
Pass Climate Risk Disclosure bills to incentivize divestment in oil companies and other heavy polluting industries.
Timeline for Emission reduction goals
2025 – Establish net-zero standards for new buildings
2027 – New nuclear reactors begin to come online
2030 – Zero-emission standard for all new cars
2035 – 100% emissions free electric grid
2040 – Net-zero for all transportation sectors
2045 – 85% methane recapture
2049 – Fully green economy
Amy Klobuchar (Senator-Minnesota )à52.5/100 B+
Greenpeace.org and medium.com/AmyforAmerica
Agreed to No Fossil Fuel pledge: no campaign donations from fossil fuel companies and Net Zero emissions by 2050
Hold fossil fuel companies accountable by ending some subsidies and passing an amendment to overturn Citizens United
Co-sponsored S.Res.59: the Green New Deal (2019) and S.1710: Close Big Oil tax loopholes (2017) and S.089: American Energy Innovation act (2015)
Create a “technology neutral tax credit to support production of or investment into clean sources of energy.”
Restore and expand Clean Power Plan and enforce a price on Carbon
Create a “Buy Clean” product labeling system to incentivize industry production of clean products
Institute an import fee on carbon intensive products
Invest in rural wind and solar infrastructure projects to assist rural coops in transitioning to greener power sources
Expand and pass into law the Expanding Access to Sustainable Energy (EASE) act to provide rural coops access to technological help to reach their goals
Develop clean energy bonds to support investment in greener technologies
$1 Trillion infrastructure package that includes:
Retrofit buildings
Promote effective zoning rules to minimize climate impacts
Build climate resiliency into federal infrastructure projects