Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders responded Monday to criticism of his campaign’s heavy focus on climate change. Sanders argued the U.S. is “fighting a war” to save the planet for generations to come.
“I see this as the major planetary environmental crisis that we face. We have to look at this as if we are fighting a war and we are fighting a war and the war is against climate change and our goal is to save the planet for our kids and grandchildren,” Sanders told MSNBC’s Chris Hayes Monday.
The Democratic presidential candidate’s statement came hours after his campaign released a climate plan that called for a carbon tax and end to fossil fuels by 2050.
Sanders said if the U.S. does not transform its energy systems away from fossil fuels, this will result in the mass migration of “tens and tens of millions of people” away from coastal areas due to increased flooding.
He also claimed the result of such climate changes would create further international conflict.
