Three weeks after the launch of the “NoKXL Pledge” on Aug. 13, ten major presidential candidates have signed onto the pledge, making it clear that on Day One in office they will revoke the controversial Keystone XL pipeline’s unprecedented, unilateral permit and institute a true climate test for all other energy projects.
Today, a coalition fighting the proposed Keystone XL pipeline sent a letter to all Democratic presidential candidates, urging them to take the ‘NoKXL Pledge’ and make it clear that on Day One in office they will revoke the controversial pipeline’s unprecedented permit issued by Trump.
“At the first primary debates, 18 of 20 candidates will have committed to reject dirty money from fossil fuel executives, lobbyists, and corporate PACs,” said David Turnbull of Oil Change U.S.
Gov. Jay Inslee’s new climate plan is a critical development because it takes the climate conversation to a new level – how to actively dismantle the fossil fuel industry and its political power in order to win the change we need.
“The U.S. is poised for a massive oil and gas expansion that would make achieving our climate goals basically impossible if left unchecked. Governor Inslee’s plan is the first we’ve seen that truly acknowledges this emergency and proposes critical steps to turn it back,” said David Turnbull.
“With his international climate policy plan, Governor Inslee makes it clear that simply saying ‘I will rejoin the Paris Agreement’ is nowhere near enough to show true climate leadership on the global stage.”
Vice President Biden’s signing the No Fossil Fuel Money pledge solidifies a near-consensus position amongst Democratic presidential contenders in finally rejecting the fossil fuel industry’s influence on our politics.
With Julián Castro’s announcement today that he will reject contributions from fossil fuel industry executives, corporate PACs, and lobbyists, he joins thirteen of his counterparts in signing the pledge. The writing is now on the wall for the fossil fuel industry.
More than 200 groups sent a letter to U.S. senators today, urging them to oppose a bill that would provide billions of dollars of support for natural gas infrastructure projects in Europe.
This week has seen some important public statements from candidates about their plans to constrain Big Oil, Gas, and Coal’s expansion and implemented a controlled wind-down of fossil fuel production that addresses environmental injustices and strengthens labor protections. Here’s a quick run-down of these stances on real climate leadership.
