PRESS RELEASE: DNC Climate Council Applauds Significant Changes to the 2020 Democratic Platform on Climate
The DNC Climate Council has been advocating for the inclusion of its policy recommendations in the 2020 Platform
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, the DNC Council on Environment and Climate Crisis applauded the passage of important amendments to the Democratic Party platform that are vital steps toward addressing the climate crisis, upholding environmental justice, and protecting the environment. The platform was approved late Monday by the Party’s Platform Committee after adopting numerous proposals put forward by the DNC Climate Council. Passage of the platform came after days of meetings between the DNC Climate Council, the Platform Committee and the Biden campaign.
“Months ago, the DNC Climate Council began to push for a bold and ambitious DNC Platform when it comes to climate, environmental justice, and a just transition,” said Michelle Deatrick, founder and chair of the DNC Climate Council. “These changes show significant progress over the 2016 Platform in several important ways, and that the Platform Committee has listened to the DNC Climate Council and heard the tens of thousands of activists across the country who are advocating for bolder solutions to the climate crisis. We appreciate the support of the Platform Committee. While there is important, necessary work still to be done to meet the scale and rapid worsening of the climate crisis, we look forward to winning in November and working with President Joe Biden to advance a bold climate agenda. Nothing less than the planet is at stake.”
The following changes, approved by the Platform Committee today, were among those advocated for by the Climate Council:
The U.S will do its “fair share” of greenhouse gas reductions to keep global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
This significant amendment improves on the 2016 platform and the original 2020 Platform Draft in two ways: it firmly commits to 1.5 degrees C; and as important, it commits the U.S. to reduce its greenhouse gas pollution to fair share levels, taking into account both our capability to reduce and our responsibility for past and present emissions relative to other countries.
Enable renters to participate in the Green Economy and reduce their energy costs by incentivizing landlords to make energy efficiency and clean energy upgrades.
Fight climate and science denialism through supporting environmental and climate literacy and reverse Trump’s roll-back on funding for the National Environmental Education Act.
Require public companies to disclose climate risks and greenhouse gas emissions in their operations and supply chains, which would improve the nation’s financial stability and environmental resiliency.
Invest in reducing pesticide and chemical fertilizer use, and ban the use of chlorpyrifos, a potent neurotoxin especially impacting children and agricultural workers.
Eliminate tax breaks and subsidies for the fossil fuel industry.
Commit Democrats to create pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship opportunities as a pathway to family-sustaining manufacturing jobs without requiring college attendance, which is important for equitable access to the new Green Economy jobs.
Uphold the importance of climate change as one of America’s main challenges by naming it as such in the Platform Preamble.
Ban new oil and gas permitting on public lands and waters, and increase royalties for existing leases to account for climate costs.
Invest in research and development to support Green Agriculture: climate-resilient, sustainable, low-carbon and organic farming.
The Climate Council, launched in February to push the Democratic Party to take stronger action on the climate crisis and other environmental issues, releasedpolicy recommendations for the Democratic Party last month. The Council’s recommendations have been endorsed by more than 150 organizations including Sunrise, 350, Greenpeace, Sierra Club, the Center for Biological Diversity Action Fund, Our Revolution, Food and Water Action, and many others. More than 26,000 signatures have been gathered in support of the Council’s policy recommendations.
###