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Senator Kamala Harris wants to spend more than $ 10 trillion on the carbon-neutral economy of the United States, phase out the sale of gasoline cars, block oil drilling on public land and even ban plastic straws.
The California senator on Wednesday exposed her plan to deal with the climate crisis at CNN's presidential may, along with nine of her White House rivals.
Many of the candidates' projects are similar, designed to reduce carbon emissions in the United States over the next three decades. Harris and others have asked to join the Paris climate deal, which Trump has decided to sign. invest in renewable energy such as solar panels and wind turbines; and the ban on oil drilling at sea, among other ideas.
The marathon, a seven-hour forum, took place as Hurricane Dorian, which hit the Bahamas in recent days, loomed off the coast of Florida. Opponents pointed to the concrete impacts already being felt by Americans as a result of climate change – from storm surges and floods in the South and Midwest to increasingly deadly forest fires in California and the West – to highlight the need for swift and radical action.
In a plan launched Wednesday morning, Harris is asking for $ 10 trillion in public and private investment to bring the US economy to zero carbon emissions by 2045. His proposal plans to end it. to the production of energy from fossil fuels by 2030 and to all new cars sold to be zero emission vehicles by 2035.
It would also provide funding to California and other western states to fight forest fires, put in place new clean construction standards and ensure that all school buses run on electricity. by 2030. Part of the funding would come from a new carbon tax.
Harris said at the forum that she would support the removal of the Senate obstruction to adopt a Green New Deal – a radical proposal for major green energy investments – if Republican members of the Congress did not take action to combat climate change. The buccaneer, who allows a Senate minority to block legislation, could allow GOP senators to block climate efforts, even if Democrats win a majority in the House next year.
"If we do not see any traction there, yes, I will take action for the executive and yes, I will do whatever is necessary," Harris said. "It's about the health and safety of our country and the world."
In addition to radical economic reforms, Harris also suggested smaller-scale changes in the daily lives of Americans. She stated that she would be in favor of changing the dietary guidelines to reduce the consumption of red meat, which has a particularly negative impact on the environment.
Harris also came out in favor of a ban on plastic straws, which lawyers say would contribute to massive fouling of the world's oceans. California has become the first state to prohibit most restaurants from distributing plastic straw unless a customer requests one.
"I'll be honest, it's really hard to drink with a piece of paper, as if you were not drinking right now, it was starting to bend," Harris said with a laugh. "We have to perfect that a bit."
Harris initially refused the invitation to CNN's mayor, citing a scheduling conflict, but agreed to attend after being criticized by activists.
The marathon of candidates who have spoken so far has for the most part presented similar plans for investing in green energy and reducing emissions. The main questions are about timing and scale – Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, for example, would invest more than $ 16 trillion in the fight against climate change, to the maximum of one of the Democratic candidates, while others hope to achieve the same goals. with much lower costs or longer delays.
"It's a good thing that candidates set big goals," said Jim Sweeney, a Stanford professor who studies energy and climate policies. "Part of what they propose is more ambitious than likely – but if they do not shoot, they guarantee that they will not have a purpose."
Many candidates, including Harris, congratulated on Wednesday the former presidential candidate, Jay Inslee, governor of Washington State, who put climate change at the center of his campaign. Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts announced Tuesday that she is adopting Inslee's six-part climate proposal.
And the candidates pointed out that they wanted to help coal miners and other workers who could lose their jobs in order to decarbonize the economy. Sanders said he would guarantee workers' wages in the fossil fuel sector for up to five years if they were fired, while offering them other benefits, such as housing assistance.
"The coal miners in this country, the men and women who work on the oil rigs, they are not my enemy," said Sanders. "My enemy is climate change."
Former Vice President Joe Biden claimed that he was the best candidate in the world for reducing emissions because of his relationships with world leaders, noting that a large majority of carbon came from countries other than the United States. But it has been criticized by the public. on his plans to hold a fundraiser the day after the forum with the co-founder of a natural gas company. Biden said the event did not violate its commitment not to take money from fossil fuel executives, as businessman Andrew Goldman was not involved in the day-to-day activities of the company. society.
Climate activists lobbied for a full climate debate, with the candidates appearing together on the stage and playing with their plans. But the Democratic National Committee voted against allowing such an event at a meeting in San Francisco last month, forcing CNN to poll candidates one by one, about half an hour each.
The forum was not a real debate, but it was by far the most in-depth and publicized discussion of climate change in a presidential campaign. The climate crisis will take another turn in the spotlight of the presidential campaign when MSNBC will hold its own forum on the issue, which will be open to all candidates.
Some candidates have rejected the idea that Americans should make big personal sacrifices to combat the effects of climate change. To the question of whether everyone in the country would be forced to drive electric cars as part of his plan, entrepreneur Andrew Yang responded with a more positive tone.
"It's not something you have to do, it's great," said Yang laughing at the audience. "We have the impression of driving the future – and I have not said it because Elon Musk has just approved me."
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