To: Anderson Cooper, CNN Anchor and Martha Raddatz, ABC Chief Global Affairs Correspondent
Tell Debate Moderators: End the Climate Silence
Ask the presidential candidates: What’s your plan to address climate change if you become president?
Why is this important?
As Hurricane Matthew makes landfall today in Florida, millions of people face uncertainty and danger in the days ahead. Unfortunately, due to climate change caused by fossil fuel pollution, catastrophic weather events like this may now be part of the new normal.
Yet, at both the vice presidential and first presidential debates, there wasn't a single question about climate change.
For the first time, ABC and CNN have both agreed to consider questions submitted online by the public for inclusion during the debates, and several of the top vote-getting questions are related to climate change.
Voters deserve to hear the candidates answer a straight-forward question climate change. We must ask a question that cuts to the heart of the issue and exposes just how ill-prepared a Donald Trump presidency is to address the reality of climate change.
CNN has a promising history of questioning candidates on climate change. In March, CNN anchor Jake Tapper questioned both Sen. Marco Rubio and Gov. John Kasich about their plans to address sea level rise at the Republican presidential debate in Miami. With one candidate who tweeted that climate change is a hoax perpetrated by the Chinese, the American people deserve to know the candidate's true plans to deal (or not to) with climate change.
For the upcoming town hall debate, the responsibility to ask these critical questions lies in the hands of the moderators and the networks who have agreed consider questions submitted by the public.
Yet, at both the vice presidential and first presidential debates, there wasn't a single question about climate change.
For the first time, ABC and CNN have both agreed to consider questions submitted online by the public for inclusion during the debates, and several of the top vote-getting questions are related to climate change.
Voters deserve to hear the candidates answer a straight-forward question climate change. We must ask a question that cuts to the heart of the issue and exposes just how ill-prepared a Donald Trump presidency is to address the reality of climate change.
CNN has a promising history of questioning candidates on climate change. In March, CNN anchor Jake Tapper questioned both Sen. Marco Rubio and Gov. John Kasich about their plans to address sea level rise at the Republican presidential debate in Miami. With one candidate who tweeted that climate change is a hoax perpetrated by the Chinese, the American people deserve to know the candidate's true plans to deal (or not to) with climate change.
For the upcoming town hall debate, the responsibility to ask these critical questions lies in the hands of the moderators and the networks who have agreed consider questions submitted by the public.