Climate change gets its moment in the spotlight

In the first question on climate change, California Sen. Kamala Harris immediately corrected the moderators, saying, “I don’t call it climate change, it’s a climate crisis. It is an existential threat to us as a species. The fact that we have a president who embraced science fiction over science fact is to our collective peril.”

South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg also weighed in on the issue, pointing to the significance of rural communities to combat climate change: “We have to look at the leadership of local communities. The networks of mayors and cities not waiting for the national governments to catch up. We should have a Pittsburgh summit as well as rejoining the Paris agreement.”

Former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper was then asked to defend his position on making oil and gas companies partners in the fights to combat climate change.

“We have to recognize that only by bringing people together, businesses, nonprofits– We can’t demonize every business. If we’re not able to do that, we will be doomed to failure. No way of doing this.”

Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders slammed the “old ways” of approaching climate change.

“The old ways are no longer relevant,” he said. “The scientists tell us we have 12 years before there is irreparable damage to the planet.”