Council on Foreign Relations: on Energy & Oil


Tom Steyer: Supports Green New Deal & carbon-neutrality by 2045

Steyer backs the Green New Deal framework proposed by many Democrats and says that if Congress fails to enact it he would use the emergency powers of the presidency to implement climate policies.

His plan calls for a carbon-neutral economy by 2045. He would invest at least $2 trillion in federal spending over a decade into new infrastructure, transportation systems, and clean energy.

His plan would also create a civilian climate corps, which Steyer says would generate one million new jobs at a cost of $250 billion.

He would dedicate $50 billion to helping workers in fossil fuel industries transition to new careers while ensuring their health care and other benefits.

He promises to rejoin the international Paris Agreement on climate, which Trump withdrew from in 2017. He also pledges more aid to other countries to help them transition from fossil fuel use.

He is skeptical of nuclear power. He favors other technologies such as wind and solar power.

Source: Council on Foreign Relations on 2019 Democratic primary Dec 24, 2019

Marianne Williamson: Invest in renewable energy, both in US and abroad

We have the opportunity to leapfrog over fossil fuels and dirty energy and build clean renewable energy systems in developing countries. The US should redirect subsidies away from fossil fuels including coal and invest them in building renewable energy power, both in the US and abroad.
Source: Council on Foreign Relations on 2020 presidential primary Aug 16, 2019

Andrew Yang: Provide developing countries alternatives to fossil fuels

The first step to any action on climate change is to rejoin the Paris Accords so that we have the moral authority and allies in order to fight the existential threat that is climate change. In order to combat the development of fossil fuel power expanding to developing countries, we have to provide a viable alternative.
Source: Council on Foreign Relations on 2020 presidential primary Aug 9, 2019

Joe Sestak: Rejoin Paris Accord; US must restore global leadership

I will immediately move to re-join the Paris Climate Accord, and not only work to compel nations to meet their commitments but to increase them. It is absolutely imperative that we restore US global leadership in this critical multilateral effort so that we can collectively disarm the catastrophic threat of climate change. We simply cannot do it alone: the United States can only achieve 15% of the required reduction of greenhouse gas emissions on our own before that time bomb explodes on us.
Source: Council on Foreign Relations on 2020 presidential primary Jul 30, 2019

Joe Sestak: Net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050; end coal exports

We must bring the world along with us as we strive to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. We can work to establish a date certain after which coal exports will be banned. We currently export 12% of all U.S. coal production, so we are perpetuating the use of this major source of pollution and carbon emissions. This must be done in conjunction with the training for fossil fuel workers required to transition to the replacement manufacturing green energy jobs.
Source: Council on Foreign Relations on 2020 presidential primary Jul 30, 2019

Pete Buttigieg: US must lead the way in exit of coal-fired power

The US needs to lead the way in the global exit of coal-fired power. I will quadruple clean energy research and development in the US and enact additional policies to support the deployment of renewables, storage, carbon capture and energy efficiency in homes and building retrofits. The US will work through global institutions to reduce and end global fossil fuel subsidies, many of which have unfairly favored coal, starting at home.
Source: Council on Foreign Relations on 2020 presidential primary Jul 30, 2019

Seth Moulton: Need to make climate change a top priority

We need to make clean energy more cost-effective than coal for developing countries.

We should also rejoin the Paris Climate Accord immediately, and we must also go further. If we hope to not only save the planet but also remain the economic and diplomatic leaders of it, we need to make climate change a top priority in our investment, foreign policy, and national security decisions. And we must do so now before it's too late.

Source: Council on Foreign Relations on 2020 presidential primary Jul 30, 2019

Wesley Clark: Disappearing glaciers make global warming obvious

Human beings do affect the environment and all you have to do is fly along the Andes and look at the disappearing glaciers down there and you recognize that there is something called global warming and it’s just getting started as China and India modernize.
Source: Speech at the Council on Foreign Relations, NYC NY Feb 20, 2003

  • The above quotations are from Council on Foreign Relations.
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2020 Presidential contenders on Energy & Oil:
  Democrats running for President:
Sen.Michael Bennet (D-CO)
V.P.Joe Biden (D-DE)
Mayor Mike Bloomberg (I-NYC)
Gov.Steve Bullock (D-MT)
Mayor Pete Buttigieg (D-IN)
Sen.Cory Booker (D-NJ)
Secy.Julian Castro (D-TX)
Gov.Lincoln Chafee (L-RI)
Rep.John Delaney (D-MD)
Rep.Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI)
Sen.Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)
Gov.Deval Patrick (D-MA)
Sen.Bernie Sanders (I-VT)
CEO Tom Steyer (D-CA)
Sen.Elizabeth Warren (D-MA)
Marianne Williamson (D-CA)
CEO Andrew Yang (D-NY)

2020 Third Party Candidates:
Rep.Justin Amash (L-MI)
CEO Don Blankenship (C-WV)
Gov.Lincoln Chafee (L-RI)
Howie Hawkins (G-NY)
Gov.Gary Johnson(L-NM)
Howard Schultz(I-WA)
Gov.Jesse Ventura (I-MN) 		Republicans running for President:
Sen.Ted Cruz(R-TX)
Gov.Larry Hogan (R-MD)
Gov.John Kasich(R-OH)
V.P.Mike Pence(R-IN)
Gov.Mark Sanford (R-SC)
Pres.Donald Trump(R-NY)
Rep.Joe Walsh (R-IL)
Gov.Bill Weld(R-MA & L-NY)

2020 Withdrawn Democratic Candidates:
Sen.Stacey Abrams (D-GA)
Mayor Bill de Blasio (D-NYC)
Sen.Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)
Sen.Mike Gravel (D-AK)
Sen.Kamala Harris (D-CA)
Gov.John Hickenlooper (D-CO)
Gov.Jay Inslee (D-WA)
Mayor Wayne Messam (D-FL)
Rep.Seth Moulton (D-MA)
Rep.Beto O`Rourke (D-TX)
Rep.Tim Ryan (D-CA)
Adm.Joe Sestak (D-PA)
Rep.Eric Swalwell (D-CA)
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