NextGen Climate Memo on Fox News Republican Debate, 8.5.15

To: Bret Baier, Megyn Kelly and Chris Wallace
From: Tom Steyer, President of NextGen Climate
Date: August 5, 2015
Re: FOX News Republican Debate

Climate change is the defining challenge of our time, and Americans around the country—and across the aisle—are calling for action. As the moderators for the first Republican debate, you are uniquely positioned to ask all Republican candidates for their plan to tackle this critical issue.

We urge you to ask the Republican candidates for their plan to power our country with more than 50 percent clean energy by 2030 and put us on a path to a completely clean energy economy by 2050.

Transitioning to a clean energy economy is an ambitious goal, but one that is necessary, achievable and politically popular. In a poll conducted by Hart Research for NextGen Climate, 54 percent of Republican voters in battleground states favor a goal of powering America with 50 percent clean energy by 2030. Polling conducted by American Viewpoint for the League of Conservation Voters and Natural Resources Defense Council found that Republican primary voters in New Hampshire and South Carolina are more likely to vote for a candidate who proposes such a plan.

Climate change is already impacting our communities across the country, and left unchecked, it will have devastating effects on our economy and national security. A diverse coalition of voices, including Pope Francis, business leaders and the military are speaking up for action. Just last year, 16 retired three- and four-star generals and admirals issued a report, National Security and the Accelerating Risks of Climate Change, identifying climate change as a “catalyst for conflict.” Additionally, the Pentagon’s 2014 Quadrennial Defense Review laid out the very serious threat posed from climate change: “These effects are threat multipliers that will aggravate stressors abroad such as poverty, environmental degradation, political instability, and social tensions – conditions that can enable terrorist activity and other forms of violence.”

But by transitioning from outdated fossil fuels to modern clean energy technologies, we can prevent these disastrous consequences and build a stronger economy with more and better jobs.

NextGen Climate’s goal of more than 50 percent clean energy by 2030 would more than triple renewable energy in our country, reduce pollution, lower energy costs and create good-paying jobs.

Renewable energy sources like wind and solar are increasingly competitive with fossil fuels on cost, and installed capacity is growing rapidly as businesses and consumers lead the way forward. As a result, clean energy jobs are significantly outpacing fossil fuels jobs, with solar jobs growing 20 times faster than the broader economy. Over its lifetime, solar creates more than eight times the jobs per megawatt-hour than natural gas or coal. And accelerating the shift to completely clean energy would lower electricity bills and add millions more good paying jobs right here in the United States.

Climate change truly is the challenge of our generation, and the urgency of addressing this threat cannot be overstated. Now, more than ever, we need responsible leaders who accept the science of climate change and will push for real solutions to reduce carbon pollution. The American people will be tuning in to hear how the Republican candidates propose to lead our country—and we urge you to make sure they answer the important questions.