Donald Trump is now the world’s most famous and infamous climate denier, yet his radical conspiracy theory views on one of the greatest crises facing our planet have never received a primetime airing, much less an interrogation. Despite participating in countless Primary debates, Trump was not asked even once about his views on climate change.
During the first two general election debates, Hillary Clinton had to bring the topic up on her own, resulting in Trump’s notorious denial that he had called climate change a hoax “created by and for the Chinese.” Not surprisingly, his tweet saying exactly that became the most amplified item on social media of the entire night. But things quickly moved on and Trump was never asked to clarify. Now that he hasn’t had a press conference in months, there’s been no opportunity for the press to ask him about it on the campaign trail either.
In sum, Trump has never been held accountable for his position on climate, which would, astonishingly, make him the only head of state in the entire world to reject the science and dangers of climate change.
It’s critical that his feet be held to fire, because if he’s elected and follows through on his promises to “cancel” the Paris climate agreement, eliminate the Environmental Protection Agency, and let oil tycoons run some of the key agencies of government, all Americans will suffer mightily for it--along with the rest of the world.
The good news is that there is no shortage of major international news that Chris Wallace, the last debate’s moderator, can peg a question to. From NASA’s announcement that this September was the hottest ever on record, to the international Paris climate agreement entering into force, to a major international agreement to phase out super warming pollutants reached just this week, there are a hugely consequential events happening right now which concern the entire world.
It’s time to end the debate blackout on climate change, the world can’t afford for Chris Wallace to let Trump off the hook.
By Sierra Club National Political Director Khalid Pitts.