Hi all,
The moderators were
just announced: Chris Wallace (Fox) on September
29, Steve Scully (C-SPAN) on October 15, Kristen Welker (NBC) on October 22 and Susan Page (USA Today) for the VP debate on October 7.
So this is the last call to
sign onto the letter
by 3pm ET today! Thank you so much to the folks that have signed on already - current signatories are below. We’re aiming to push this out publicly tomorrow AM and will be in touch shortly
with the folks who’ve signed on with more details on timing, sample social, etc.
198 Methods
314 Action: Shaughnessy Naughton, President & Founder
350.org: Tamara Toles O'Laughlin, North America Director
Alianza for Progress: Marcos Vilar, Executive Director
Black Millenials 4 Flint: LaTricea Adams, Founder and President
Clean Air Moms Action: Felice Stadler, Director
Center for Biological Diversity Action Fund: Brett Hartl, Chief Political Strategist
Center for American Progress Action Fund: John Podesta, Founder
Clean Water Action: Caroline Spears, Founder
Climate Hawks Vote: RL Miller
Climate Nexus: Jeff Nesbit, Executive Director
Climate Power 2020: Lori Lodes, Executive Director
Climate Reality Project Action Fund
Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles: Angelica Salas, Executive Director
Elected Officials to Protect America: Alex Cornell du Houx, Co-Founder and President
Environmental Defense Fund Action: Joe Bonfiglio, President
Evergreen Action: Jamal Raad, Co-Founder and Campaign Director
Friends of the Earth: Karen Orenstein, Director of Climate and Energy
Generation Green: Destiny Hodges, Founder and Executive Director
Greenpeace: Annie Leonard, Executive Director
Good Energy Collective: Co-Founders Jessica Lovering and Suzanne Baker, Board Chair Rachel Slaybaugh
Hip Hop Caucus: Liz Havstad, Executive Director
Indivisible: Leah Greenberg and Ezra Levin, Co Executive Directors
League of Conservation Voters: Tiernan Sittenfeld, Senior Vice President, Government Affairs
Leaders Igniting Transformation Action Fund: Darrol Gibson, Managing Director
National Wildlife Federation: Mustafa Ali, Vice President of Environmental Justice, Climate, and Community Revitalization
National Urban League Young Professionals: Ray B. Shackelford, President
Natural Resources Defense Council Action Fund: Kevin S. Curtis, Executive Director
Physicians for Social Responsibility: Antonia Herzog, Climate and Energy Program Manager
People’s Action: Kaniela Ing, Climate Justice Campaign Director
Progressive Democrats of America: Alan Minsky, Executive Director
Sierra Club: Ramon Cruz, President
The CLEO Institute: Yoca Arditi-Rocha, Executive Director
The Next 50
Union of Concerned Scientists
We Act for Environmental Justice: Peggy Shepherd, Co-founder and Executive Director
Working Families Party: Maurice Mitchell, National Director
Best,
Sydney
Sydney Snow
Senior Political Director
Climate Power 2020
Cell: 904-891-1843
Email: sydney@climatepower2020.org
From: Sydney Snow <sydney@climatepower2020.org>
Date: Monday, August 31, 2020 at 1:52 PM
To: "cdp@groups.b-team.org" <cdp@groups.b-team.org>
Cc: Molly Simon <molly@climatepower2020.org>
Subject: Sign-on to this letter to ensure the climate crisis is a central focus of the debates
Hi all,
Happy Monday! Now that the Conventions are wrapped up, our team is looking towards the Presidential Debates. In 2016, moderators didn’t ask a single question about the climate crisis during any of the four debates. That
was unacceptable then, and would be nothing short of dangerous in 2020.
We're getting ready for the debate moderators to be announced and as soon as they are, we will be ready. We hope your organization will join us in calling on the debate moderators to ensure
the climate crisis is a central focus of all presidential and vice-presidential debates this year.
We hope you will join us and SIGN ON to this letter
to the debate moderators!
Deadline to sign on is COB Tuesday 9/1. To sign on, reply to this email with the organizations name
and the person from your organization who will be signing on your organizations behalf.
Let us know if you have any questions. Hope you will join us in this effort!
Best,
Sydney Snow
DATE
WHO: MODERATORS
ADDRESS
CITY
Dear [NAME],
Debates are among the very few, but significant, opportunities for the presidential and vice-presidential candidates to speak directly to the American people. Where candidates must clearly state how they
will address our nation’s most pressing issues.
The XXX undersigned organizations stand with the vast
majority of Americans who favor bold government action to address the climate crisis. Together, we are asking you — the debate moderators charged with shaping these moments — to ensure the climate crisis
is a central focus of all presidential and vice-presidential debates this year. It is imperative the candidates seeking our nation’s highest office explain how they will address and prepare us for the current and increasing effects of the climate crisis and
how they will combat the environmental injustice that has plagued Black and brown communities for decades.
In 2016, moderators didn’t ask a single question about the climate crisis during any of the four debates. That was unacceptable then, and would be nothing short of dangerous in 2020. This election will
be a defining moment for our country. We are truly at the point of no return if we do not act boldly and immediately starting in 2021.
This is not a partisan issue. Research from Stanford University in August of 2020 found that 60%
of voters want the US government to do more about global warming — with 82%
saying the government should at least do a moderate amount to address the climate crisis, an all-time high for public opinion on the issue. While Pew, in March, found concern over climate change growing with 60%
now viewing it as a major threat, up 7 points from 2016 and 27 points from 2009.
The climate crisis is here — the crisis is not a chart or a graph, or in some far-off future.
It is happening now, in communities across America. From the rising asthma and cancer rates in frontline communities, predominantly communities of color and low-income communities, who’ve been subject to toxic
air and water, to the increasingly devastating extreme hurricanes, heatwaves, wildfires and violent storms that have destroyed homes and small businesses, wrecked communities, and killed friends, neighbors, and family — we are living with the consequences
of climate change every day.
We are a country deep in crises, and how we respond to one crisis greatly impacts the others. As we look to our leaders to rebuild and recover from a pandemic-fueled economic crisis, the type of jobs we
create are the defining question of how we get people back to work and if we are going to take genuine steps toward the clean future we need to tackle the climate
crisis. We’re at the edge of a cliff, and voters must know what direction our next President will take us.
Any discussion on the economy, racial justice, public health, democracy, national security or infrastructure must include the climate crisis. Voters deserve media coverage that takes the climate crisis
as seriously as the science tells us we must and as the millions of Americans who are currently suffering from the impacts deserve. As moderators, it is your responsibility to ensure all candidates provide clear answers on their specific plans to protect communities
from the climate emergency starting on day one and throughout their term.
Thank you for providing the candidates with the opportunity to address their records and explain their plans on an issue vital to the present and future of all Americans — and our entire planet.
Sydney Snow
Senior Political Director
Climate Power 2020
Cell: 904-891-1843
Email: sydney@climatepower2020.org