Environmentalists are pressuring the moderators of the presidential debates to spend more time asking Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton about climate change in the coming debates.
The League of Conservation Voters and a collection of other environmental groups said on Friday that they have gathered 100,000 signatures of people who want moderators to ask more climate change questions.
“As the moderators of the 2016 presidential debates, you have the opportunity to ask questions about the most pressing issues facing our country — and climate change must be at the top of the list,” the petition reads.
The first presidential primary debate will be held Monday night. It will be moderated by NBC News’ Lester Holt.
Climate change made its way into nearly every Democratic presidential primary debate but was just barely raised in the numerous Republican debates.
According to the petition, 1.5 percent of the almost 1,500 questions asked by moderators during the primary debates were about climate change. That’s not enough for the environmentalists.
“Millions of voters will get their information about the presidential candidates from the debates,” the petition stated. “They entrust you with the responsibility to ensure that they know where the candidates stand on an issue that will affect their health, the economy, our national security — and their children’s and grandchildren’s futures.
“We must know where the candidates stand on these issues. Please bring this important issue to the national stage by asking the candidates how they plan to address climate change.”
Climate change is an area of real difference between the Republican and Democratic nominees.
Clinton generally plans to continue President Obama’s environmental policies and wants to increase renewable energy production in the country. Meanwhile, Trump has said climate change is a hoax invented by the Chinese, that it’s not real and that the global warming Americans should care about is nuclear war.
Trump, who is being advised by executives from fossil fuel companies, said this week he would open up all federal lands to fossil fuel production.
The Sierra Club argued the debates will be a grand stage to put the candidates’ differences on display and continue a conversation about the direction of the country’s energy economy.
The group added that Trump needs to be held to account for his climate views and his various plans for repealing Obama’s environmental regulations if he takes office. Trump also wants to take the United States out of the Paris climate change agreement.
“We need a national conversation about the direction our economy is taking, and must continue to take, towards clean energy and away from dirty fuels,” the statement read. “Both candidates need to be asked about their specific plans for tackling the climate crisis through clean, renewable power, and zero and low emission transportation.
“Those answers must be measured against both the consequences of inaction and the fundamental scientific facts the world is racing against.”
