Climate Advocates Speak out on Trump’s Energy Energy Policy
Leaders from NextGen Climate, NRDC Action Fund, 350 Action, and the Sierra Club denounce Trump’s dangerous energy plan
SAN FRANCISCO, CA — Today, ahead of Donald Trump’s speech on energy policy in North Dakota, NextGen Climate hosted a media conference call discussing why Trump’s dangerous energy plan that poses a threat to our families’ health and economic security. NextGen Climate President Tom Steyer, NRDC Action Fund President Rhea Suh, 350 Action Executive Director May Boeve, Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune and Van Jones joined the conference call.
“Donald Trump’s energy policies would hurt our country’s economy, health, safety, and security,” said NextGen Climate President Tom Steyer. “The Trump agenda is only going to make America great again for corporate polluters, which is why Americans need to come together to defeat him—and his Republican allies—in November.”
“We can’t drill our way to prosperity, we won’t burn our way out of the climate crisis and we’re not going to anchor our future in the dirty fuels of the past,” said Rhea Suh, president of the NRDC Action Fund.
“No matter what Donald Trump says today about making coal great again, it’s abundantly clear that he has zero ideas to help our planet face the global crisis of climate change,” said 350 Action Executive Director May Boeve. “The good news is: voters care about these issues now more than ever, and they won’t reward a candidate who thinks fossil fuels are the future, or who says climate change is a hoax perpetrated by another government. That’s why we’ll continue making the case against Donald Trump’s unhinged blathering, and for candidates who support a swift and just transition to an economy powered entirely by renewable energy.”
“Donald Trump has not proposed any plan to tackle the climate crisis — in fact, he won’t even admit that it’s happening,” said Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune. “That’s something that may appeal to the oil executives he’s talking to — but it’s not going to fly with the large majorities of Americans across both parties who want climate action right here and right now.”
“Donald Trump is a corporate train wreck on climate change. He’s a climate denier in bed with big oil, when the science is clear that we need to keep fossil fuels in the ground and invest in the clean energy that will power our future,” said Van Jones.
On the campaign trail, Donald Trump has already given the country a preview of his dangerous energy agenda. Trump has pledged to eliminate the Environmental Protection Agency, which protects our air, water and environment. Trump would almost certainly roll back the Clean Power Plan, a set of commonsense rules that reduce harmful carbon pollution from power plants that is linked to asthma and other health issues. Trump favors expanding oil and gas drilling and allowing oil companies to pollute our air and water.