ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
1
Scroll through to read more details provided in each 2020 Democratic presidential candidate's climate change platforms. We'll keep this sheet updated as the field changes or candidates revise their positions. Specifics on related issues like environmental justice and drinking water infrastructure may not be included but are explored in detail in many candidates' plans, linked at left.
2
more at NH Public Radio
EMISSIONS - How will the candidate reduce planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions across the U.S. economy?
ECONOMICS - How will the candidate finance their climate change plans?
ENERGY - How would the candidate approach energy generation?
JUSTICE & ADAPTATION - How to offset the harms of climate change?
3
CANDIDATE - click to read full planTarget date for net zero U.S. carbon emissions (reduce or eliminate emissions, remove or offset the rest)Interim benchmarksGoals for transportation sectorGoals for building sectorGoals for public lands and watersGoals for reducing agricultural emissionsRejoin Paris Climate Accords?Invest in negative emissions technologies? (NETs are a still-developing way to remove or capture carbon directly from the air)Federal spending estimate through 2030Total public-private investment goalEnd fossil fuel subsidies? (billions a year in tax breaks, grants, loans and low-cost financing. Some candidates would use this & other reforms to fund their plans.)Require corporate climate risk disclosure? (i.e. companies would include climate-related risk exposure in public valuations, disclose their carbon emissions, etc)Support a carbon price and dividend / fee / tax?Support a border adjustment tax or tariff related to the carbon-intensity of imported goods?Ban new federal fossil fuel leasing on and offshore?Investment in clean energy research, development and procurementInvestment in biofuelsBan new fossil fuel exports?Role of nuclear power in energy transitionJob assistance for displaced fossil fuel workersStance on the Green New Deal resolution?Disaster preparation, mitigation and aid reformStrengthen and/or increase enforcement of federal environmental rules & EPA civil rights claims?Pursue potential criminal penalties for polluters?Renew the Superfund tax on industry to pay for hazardous waste cleanups?
4
Joe Biden, former vice president2050Reach an unspecified target by end of first term (2025); double offshore wind by 2030Deploy 500,000 public electric vehicle charging stations by 2030; prioritize improving high-speed railCut carbon footprint of US building stock in half by 2035Conserve 30% of public lands by 2030Invest in and expand farmers' access to soil health and conservation programs, among other proposalsYes"Double down on federal investments and enhance tax incentives for [carbon capture and storage]," and fund carbon capture R&D$1.7TAt least $5TYes, and call for the same worldwideYesYes"Impose carbon adjustment fees or quotas on carbon- intensive goods from countries that are failing to meet their climate obligations"Yes, and pursue international drilling moratorium in Arctic$400 billion"Double down" on advanced biofuels, "creating jobs and new solutions to reduce emissions in planes, ocean-going vessels, and more"Does not addressContinue using and study waste & safety improvementsExtend benefits, pensions and job retraining and placement assistance; reinvest in impacted communities; create a task force on the subjectSupport as frameworkInvest in resilient infrastructure, especially on coasts; lower insurance rates for resilient places; "design common-sense zoning and building codes and help communities build and rebuild"YesYesDoes not address
5
Bernie Sanders, Vermont senator2050All-renewable electricity by 2030; drastically cut energy costs by 2035All-renewable transportation by 2030; EV grants, infrastructure and trade-in programs; cap EV price at $18,000; increase public transit ridership 65% by 2030End fossil fuel use in buildings by 2030Permanently fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund; spend $25B on National Parks maintenance; survey carbon profile of forest and ag sectorsInvest $410B in ag transition to regenerative practices; "pay farmers $160B" for soil health and carbon sequestratonYesNo: "we will not rely on any false solutions like nuclear, geoengineering, carbon capture and sequestration, or trash incinerators"$16.3TDoes not addressYesYesNoYesYesYesDoes not addressYes, and importsOpposed - no new reactors or relicensing of current facilities$1.3T to ensure "strong benefits, a living wage, training, and job placement"; invest in Regional CommissionsSupport$40B "Climate Justice Resiliency Fund"; invest in infrastructure, coastal resilience, wildfire response; FEMA reformYesYesDoes not address
6
SEE BELOW FOR CANDIDATES WHO HAVE DROPPED OUT OF THE RACESources: candidates' plans, statements and information provided to NHPR, as well as Washington Post, New York Times, Politico and NPR surveys and analysis.Questions? Contact reporter Annie Ropeik at aropeik@nhpr.org.Latest updates: March 19, 2020 - Gabbard exits
7
Michael Bennet, Colorado senator2050States get extra funding for working toward net-zero by 2030; reduce food waste 75% by 2030Cut building & transportation energy waste in half by 2040; "promote manufacture of zero-emissions vehicles"Cut building & transportation energy waste in half by 2040Conserve 30% of public lands by 2030; build 150 gigawatts of renewables on public lands by 2030Expand soil health programs, invest in carbon sequestraiton research, develop clean energy on agricultural landYesDoes not address$1T$10TUnclear - plan states, "Instead of spending more than $7 billion each year to subsidize fossil fuels, the Bennet Administration will... [invest in community solar and energy efficient retrofits]."Does not addressDoes not addressDoes not addressNo -- sees natural gas as a "bridge" to wean off fossil fuels, but says some pristine land should remain protected. Increase federal climate and agriculture research; help finance energy and emissions innovation through $10T climate bank seeded with $1T in federal money"Provide economic certainty to producers to grow the biofuels market and invest in advanced biofuels"Does not addressContinue using current reactors and invest in advanced nuclear technology"Focus job creation in communities most disrupted by the transition to a net-zero emission economy, that past pollution has most harmed, and that climate change now most severely affects."OpposeDoes not addressDoes not addressDoes not addressDoes not address
8
Michael Bloomberg, former mayor of New York City205080% clean electricity by the end of his second term; cut emissions economy-wide 50% in 10 yearsNew cars by 2035 must be zero-emissions; 15% of new trucks and buses will be zero-emissions by 2030; zero-emissions shipping hubs in 15 metro areas; at least one new high-speed rail corridor by 2035; new efficiency standards, tax credits and rebatesNew buildings should be zero-carbon by 2025; new tax credits, rebates, efficiency programs and and trade-ins for fossil fuel-based equipment; tie to job creation; require energy audits for new home salesDirect ag & land agencies to "develop resilience strategies" and contribute to carbon sequestration; no further specificsSee public lands positionYes"Prioritize removal of black carbon from the atmosphere"$250B on clean energy R&D; double Forest Service funding for wildfire preparednessDoes not addressYesYesYesYesYes$250B by 2030Does not addressNoNo new plants, but existing nuclear will help transitionDoes not addressSupport as frameworkprioritize wildfire resilience; increase FEMA budget; new loans, grants & planning tools for local entities to invest in resilience; prioritize stormwater controls, urban shade and other resilient infrastructure; climate-related public health readinessYesDoes not addressDoes not address
9
Cory Booker, New Jersey senator2045100% carbon-free electricity by 2030; invest $1.5T by 2030 in clean energynew vehicles after 2030 must be zero-emissions; grants for municipalities to invest in public transitNew buildings after 2025 should be carbon neutral and all-electricConserve 30% of public lands by 2030; restore wetlands; plant 4B trees by 2030 and 16B by 2050invest $100B in existing ag conservation programs by 2030; expand conservation land enrollment and farm efficiencyyesdoes not address$3Tnone givenyesdoes not addressyes"Countries without policies capable of meeting their climate goals will be charged a border adjustment fee on goods based on their carbon intensities"yes$400B by 2030does not addressoil immediately; all by 2030Continue using and invest in advanced techinvest in job training and public services for affected communitiessupportinvest $300B by 2030yes - increase EPA civil rights staffing tenfoldno position givenyes, and triple it, plus other hazardous waste reforms
10
Pete Buttigieg, former mayor of South Bend, Indiana2050Double clean electricity generation by 2025; net-zero electricity system by 2035; new military facilities and non-combat vehicles must be zero-emissions by 2035New vehicles after 2035 must be zero-emissions; all industrial transit (air, trucks, rail, ships) must be net-zero by 2040; invest $100B in urban surface transportationNew tax credits and building code updatesDoes not addressInvest in and expand farmers' access to soil health and conservation programs; $50B for ag R&D; double investment in extension servicesYesDeploy 1 gigaton of carbon removal capacity by 2040; invest $30B in industrial carbon capture by 2050$1.5TAt least $3TYes, and call for same at G20YesYesYesYes, and pursue international drilling moratorium in Arctic$200B by 2030; new climate banks, funds and bonds with additional private fundingYesDoes not addressContinue usingHelp fossil fuel and traditional auto plants upgrade; create $200B fund for economic development in affected communities; guarantee health and retirement benefitsSupport$5B annual resilience grant program; FEMA reforms; national "catastrophic extreme weather" insurance programDoes not addressDoes not addressDoes not address
11
Julian Castro, former federal housing secretary204550% emissions reduction by 2030; electricity must be carbon-neutral by 2030 and zero-emissions by 2035all new vehicles must be zero-emissions by 2030-40; double investment in public transitNew buildings after 2030 should be zero emissionsConserve 30% of public lands and waters by 2030; 50% by 2050; plant 30B trees by 2050"Invest in programs to eliminate carbon emissions in agriculture and land use through reforming economic support programs for farms to meet climate goals"yesdoes not address$333B (estimate based on plan details)$10 trillionyesdoes not addressyesno position givenyesyesdoes not addressdoes not addressContinue using; strengthen safety requirements and invest in waste disposal tech"economic security guarantee, similar to the GI Bill"supportflood insurance reform; new building standards in flood zones; buy-out & relocation funding; $200B infrastructure investment; on immigration, define "a new category of 'Climate Refugees' for people displaced by the climate crisis"yesno position givenyes, and triple it, plus other hazardous waste reforms
12
John Delaney, former Maryland Congressman2050none specifieddoes not addressdoes not addressdoes not addressdoes not addressyesyes - $5B annual investment, and build $20B "carbon throughway" to transport captured carbon to sequestration sites$4Tnone givenyesno position givenyesno position givendoes not addressyes - increase fivefolddoes not addressdoes not addressContinue using and invest in advanced techno position giventoo broadno position givenno position givenno position givenno position given
13
Tulsi Gabbard, Hawaii member of Congress2035See all following details in her proposed OFF ActYesDoes not addressDoes not address"We should incentivize farmers who provide healthier food, sustain the land and sequester carbon dioxide and methane."YesDoes not address$20.8B -- estimated cost of OFF ActDoes not addressYesDoes not addressNoDoes not addressYesDouble current investment, and provide more loans to renewable developersDoes not addressYesOppose "unless and until there is a permanent solution to the problem of nuclear waste""Guarantee financial security for all workers affected by these economic downturns"SupportDoes not addressDoes not addressDoes not addressDoes not address
14
Kamala Harris, California senator204550% emissions reduction by 2030; carbon-neutral electricity by 2030all new vehicles must be zero-emissions by 2035New buildings after 2030 should be carbon neutral"make our public lands net carbon sinks by 2030"; conserve 30% by 2030"support every farm in America to fully implement science-based agricultural conservation practices by 2040"yesdoes not addressnone given$10 trillionyesyesyesno position givenyesyesdoes not addressnodoes not addressguarantee benefits, fund retrainingsupportharden "critical infrastructure," decentralize energy resources, consider climate hazards in federally funded infrastructure projects; invest in living shorelines; fund wildfire response and protectionyesyesyes
15
Deval Patrick, former governor of Massachusetts2040National Clean Energy Standard like state renewable portfolio standards; "will not fund investments that increase the carbon output to our atmosphere"Strengthen efficiency standards; rebates and new incentives for EVsNational energy efficiency standard for buildings; fund new heating/cooling technology; focus job creation in this areaDoes not address"Provide specific guidance and support to programs designed to harness mitigation and renewable opportunities in the agriculture sector"YesIncrease federal procurement; NETs eligible to compete with other forms of energy for state emissions target complianceDoes not addressDoes not addressYesYesYes - "cap and trade or targeted carbon pricing"Does not addressYesYesDoes not addressDoes not addressNo new reactorsFunnel displaced workforces into new clean tech fieldsSupportprioritize vulnerable communities' reslience; new insurance for affected consumers; update reslience regulations; use resiliency as parallel economic driver to clean techYesDoes not addressDoes not address
16
Amy Klobuchar, Minnesota Senator2050Does not addressReinstate EV tax credit, invest in charging infrastructure; incentives for schools to electrify buses; expand rail service in rural areasGrants and tax credits for retrofits; updated zoning codes get federal funding priority; prioritize rural housing stock upgradesPermanently fund the Land and Water Conservation FundEncourage renewable energy development on ag lands; expand soil health and conservation programsYesYes$3TDoes not addressYesDoes not addressYesYesYesYes, including new tax credits and trade school programsYes - current and advancedDoes not addressContinue usingTax credits for hiring displaced workers; free community and tech school degrees; expand loan forgivenessSupport$1T infrastructure investment, among other reformsYesDoes not addressDoes not address
17
Tom Steyer, billionaire activist2045"Eliminate asthma-causing and toxic air pollution" by 2030YesYes"Scale up beneficial uses"YesYesDoes not address$2.3TDoes not addressYesDoes not addressYesDoes not addressYesTriple current tinvestmentYesDoes not addressNo new reactors$50B for healthcare, wages and benefitsSupport as frameworkFocus on infrastructure and military readinessYesDoes not addressDoes not address
18
Elizabeth Warren, Massachusetts senator2030All renewable and zero-emissions electricity by 2035All new light- and medium-duty vehicles and buses must be zero-emissions by 2030; invest in domestic EV manufacturing and charger infrastructure"National zero-carbon building standard by 2023"; all new buildings zero-carbon after 2028"Blue New Deal" for offshore wind development and conservation, among other proposalsYesYesDoes not address$3T"Additional trillions"YesYes (most candidates who support this concept are endorsing a Warren plan)MaybeYesYes$400B in R&D by 2030; $1.5T in procurementYesYesNo new reactors"Financial security — including early retirement benefits — job training, union protections, and benefits, and guaranteeing wage and benefit parity"SupportFEMA reform; wildfire preparedness; make federal disaster spending ADA-compliant; monitor post-disaster recovery to prevent "climate gentrification"YesYesYes, and triple it
19
Marianne Williamson, author2045decarbonize electric power by 2040, using state-level targetsphase out sale of fossil fuel-powered vehicles by 2035; end all use of same by 2050; electrify all railways by 2030; require new airplanes to use hydrogen or biofuel after 2035Decarbonize by 2045; new buildings must be zero carbon after 2028does not address"break up agribusiness conglomerates"yesdoes not addressnone givennone givenyesdoes not addressyesdoes not addressyesyes"set standards to that heavy-duty trucks either use electricity or more sustainable bio-fuels by 2035"yes"Stop all use"they get first crack at renewable energy and building retrofit job trainingsupport as frameworkno details providedno position givenno position givendoes not address
20
Andrew Yang, entrepreneur2049Zero-emissions electric grid in 2035"Zero-emission standard for all new cars in 2030"; net-zero for all transportation sectors in 2040Prioritize emissions from concrete; net-zero standards for new buildings after 2025Does not address85% methane recapture in 2045; debt forgiveness for rural co-opsYesYes$4.87T Does not addressYesYesYesDoes not addressYesYes - focus on nuclear tech, materials, agriculture and transportation; reduce data storage emissions; new National Labs systemYes, for transportation and from waste gasNoExpand use; invest $50B in thorium and fusion technology; new reactors online in 2027; "PR campaign to update the reputation of nuclear reactors" YesSupport as frameworkinvest in flood protection innovations and infrastructure; FEMA and flood insurance reform; $25B for communities at risk of repeat flood disasters; quintuple US Forest Service budget to fight wildfires Does not addressDoes not addressDoes not address