CLIMATE, PROGRESSIVE GROUPS DEMAND THE CLIMATE CRISIS BE A MAJOR FOCUS OF PRESIDENTIAL DEBATES | WPN World People News

On Sept.3, the leaders of 43 prominent progressive, climate, and environmental groups called on newly-announced debate moderators Chris Wallace, Steve Scully, Kristen Welker, and Susan Page to make climate change a central issue in the upcoming presidential and vice-presidential debates.

Not one question on climate change was asked during the three presidential debates or the single vice presidential debate in 2016. At this turning point in the climate crisis, as the nation faces extreme weather, hurricanes, heat waves, and pollution, that cannot be the case in 2020.

“The climate crisis is here — the crisis is not a chart or a graph, or in some far-off future. It is happening now, in communities across America,” the leaders wrote. “From the rising asthma and cancer rates in frontline communities, predominantly communities of color and low-income communities, who’ve been subject to toxic air and water, to the increasingly devastating extreme hurricanes, heatwaves, wildfires and violent storms that have destroyed homes and small businesses, wrecked communities, and killed friends, neighbors, and family — we are living with the consequences of climate change every day.”

“Any discussion on the economy, racial justice, public health, democracy, national security, or infrastructure must include the climate crisis. Voters deserve media coverage that takes the climate crisis as seriously as the science tells us we must and as the millions of people across the country who are currently suffering from the impacts deserve,” the letter continues. “As moderators, it is your responsibility to ensure all candidates provide clear answers on their specific plans to protect communities from the climate emergency starting on day one and throughout their term.”

Source: Earthjustice