South Bend mayor Pete Buttigieg was the eighth candidate to appear in CNN’s seven-hour presidential town hall on climate change. Chris Cuomo hopped right into the discussion after a quick welcome before immediately tossing to Dr. Linda Rudolph from the Public Health Institute, whose home was lost in the Sonoma fires. Rudolph pointed out that South Bend has no climate action plan, and asked where is sense of urgency might be. Buttigieg pointed out work that his city has been doing toward the fight, and pointed out that cities can’t do it alone. He noted that he’s caught snippets of other candidates on stage, and everyone’s saying the same thing. Thus, we won’t get anywhere unless we unite the country.
Cuomo brought up Buttigieg’s newly released plan, and its lack of focus on the fossil fuel industry. Buttigieg brought up his carbon tax, and vowed to give it back to low-income communities.
A 34-year-old legacy family dairy farmer in the audience took the mic next, and asked how Buttigieg would help bring stability back to the agriculture sector. Buttigieg clarified that farmers aren’t the problem, but they can be part of the solution.
Cuomo followed up and asked how to deal with the constantly changing landscape of problems and solutions. Buttigieg extolled the carbon tax and reminded him that not everything isn't figured out yet, just like JFK didn’t have the rockets all figured out when he decided to put a man on the moon.
Next, a self-described Warren supporter and progressive activist stated some of the harshest realities of the climate crisis, as faced by people of color, women, and those earning low-income. Buttigieg acknowledged the problem and listed several other examples.
Via video, the mayor was asked what he would ask Donald Trump on the debate stage, if he had just one question about climate change. Buttigieg said that he didn’t necessarily believe that it’s possible to get through to Republicans in Congress, as well as Trump, noting that he’s been using his Sharpie to draw on weather maps. In the end, Buttigieg stated that he’d simply ask Trump to step aside.
Cuomo then cited statistics about people who believe climate change is real and caused by humans. He asked Buttigieg what his answers will be to people of faith who aren’t so sure about that reality. Buttigieg pointed out that this shouldn’t be a bipartisan issue, and pointed out that there’s evidence that the war in Syria has roots in climate crisis. He reached out to those of the faith and asked what they thought God thinks as he sees the world belching poison into the air. He ended it by calling the failure to address climate change a sin.
Next, a question about leaving the world a better place for the next generation. Buttigieg acknowledged that he and his husband hope to have children themselves. Then he brought up a concept he calls “generational justice,” noting that young people he meets ask him about climate change most of all, with only gun violence coming in a close second. We can’t look in the eyes of children if we don’t do something.
Cuomo then pushed Buttigieg on his use of private planes on the campaign trail, and whether or not it was inconsistent with his commitment to climate change. Buttigieg was a bit dismissive, saying that he took a train today, but it’s a large country and he’s running to be president of the whole nation. He then pivoted to the need for a better train system, nationwide.
Next Bill Weir, the CNN Chief Climate Correspondent, tackled harmful packaging, using plastic bottles as an example, and asked what Buttigieg would do to address this waste. The mayor asserted that he would, and noted that new innovations are being created in the heartland right now, that won’t destroy the earth.
A retired religion professor greeted Buttigieg warmly, and asked, essentially, if the mayor walks the walk or just talks the talk when it comes to his own spending. Buttigieg quickly noted that he tries his best, but that we have to remember that it’s not just what we do, there are collective issues that must be addressed.
Next Cuomo asked how to incentivize the move to electric cars. Buttigieg quickly said incentives and improvements at a rate the economy can handle are the solution.
Cuomo then pointed out that everyone is saying they’ll do the same thing, so to differentiate, they’re talking about time. Buttigieg agreed and said he wants things done as quickly as humanly possible, but the logjam that’s left these climate conversations unfinished for his entire lifetime must be broken. He also slid in a nice dig at Citizens United.
Next, a climate activist asked for Buttigieg’s plan for “a just transition” for displaced workers from fossil fuel industries, as well as those marginalized communities most hit by pollution, often communities of color. Buttigieg pointed out that lots of the new Green jobs are good jobs, and people need to see themselves as something more than victims in the new economy. He also acknowledged the power of community and identity within various industries—the first to do so tonight—and emphasized the need to preserve that along the way.
Cuomo shifted from worker anxiety to consumer anxiety, with the so-called “cheeseburger” question: What do you tell people who think you’re going to make them eat less meat? Buttigieg said that economic signals will correct beef consumption without any orders from the government necessary.
Next a video question, pointing out that the military is a huge polluter as well as the high risk of natural disaster that makes military bases vulnerable. Buttigieg pointed out that when the military is told to get something done, they find a way, and can sometimes lead the nation. In that vein, he mused on the possibility of the impact of the military’s purchasing power for vehicles of every stripe can change the market entirely if they move to zero emissions.
That was it for Mayor Pete. Former Texas Rep. Next up, Beto O’Rourke!
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Read more about each candidate’s Climate Change town hall through the links below.
Former HUD Secretary Julián Castro
Businessman Andrew Yang
California Sen. Kamala Harris
Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar
Former Vice President Joe Biden
Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders
Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren
Former Texas Rep. Beto O’Rourke
New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker