The 2020 Climate Test
Our next president needs to be a real climate leader. That means supporting a Green New Deal to create millions of good jobs transitioning to the 100% renewable energy-powered economy we need, opposing climate-wrecking fossil fuel projects, and refusing to take big polluters’ money. See where all the candidates stand—then, take action.
No one is getting an A+ on this climate test just for admitting that the climate crisis is happening. Real climate leadership means real commitment to bold action. We’re grading the candidates on these 3 questions:
- The Green New Deal: Have they voted for or publicly supported a Green New Deal, as defined by the resolutions introduced by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Ed Markey?
- The Keep it in the Ground Test: Climate science demands we rapidly transition away from fossil fuels. Have they taken actions to keep fossil fuels in the ground by opposing new coal, oil, and gas projects?
- The No Fossil Fuel Money Pledge: Have they signed the pledge to refuse money from oil, coal, and gas corporations?
You can mouse over each candidate’s score for more information on how they received their grade on each issue, or check out our research and tracking document here for more detail. If you have questions, concerns, or new information — or if you’re a candidate who thinks your score on an issue should be changed — feel free to reach out to us at 350action@350.org.
Candidate |
Supports a Green New Deal? |
Passes the Keep it in the Ground Test? |
Signed No Fossil Fuel Money Pledge? |
Take Action! |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Cory Booker |
 Booker co-sponsored Senator Markey’s February 2019 Green New Deal Senate Resolution. See his statement here, and a tweet in support of the resolution here. |
Co-sponsored the 100 by 50 Act of 2017, voted no on Keystone XL, urged the DOJ to investigate and monitor police treatment of protestors at Standing Rock, and applauded Army Corps denial of easement for construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline under Lake Oahe. |
 He has not signed the pledge. |
Tweet at Senator Booker Call Senator Booker |
Pete Buttigieg |
He endorsed the Green New Deal during an appearance on CNN’s State of the Union. It matches a sense of urgency about that problem of climate change with a sense of opportunity around what the solutions might represent.” |
 His stance is unclear or not well documented. |
Signed the pledge on March 27, 2019. |
Tweet at Mayor Buttigieg |
Julián Castro |
Tweet of quote from announcement speech: “We’re gonna say no to subsidizing big oil and say yes to passing a Green New Deal.” |
His stance is unclear or not well documented. |
Has not signed (But note: until now, Castro has not been a candidate for office while the pledge was in effect.) |
Tweet at Secretary Castro |
John Delaney |
He tweeted that the Green New Deal is “impossible” and “a step backwards” and confirmed opposition in an interview. |
Voted against KXL in 2015, but otherwise unclear. |
Has not signed the pledge. |
Tweet at Rep. Delaney Call Rep. Delaney |
Tulsi Gabbard |
Unclear: she signed a letter in support of a Select Committee for a Green New Deal, but did not co-sponsor Rep. Ocasio-Cortez’s 2019 House Resolution. She stated she is “still reviewing” it. |
She introduced the OFF Act, which would keep fossil fuels in the ground. She strongly opposed the Dakota Access Pipeline and Keystone XL Pipeline on several occasions, including joining fellow veterans in a 2016 protest against DAPL. |
She has signed the pledge. |
Tweet at Rep. Gabbard Call Rep. Gabbard |
Kirsten Gillibrand |
She co-sponsored Senator Markey’s February 2019 Green New Deal Senate Resolution, and wrote a letter detailing her vision on building out a GND. |
She co-sponsored the Keep It In the Ground Act of 2017, voted no on the Keystone XL Pipeline and released a statement opposing it in 2015. |
She has signed the pledge. |
Tweet at Senator Gillibrand Call Senator Gillibrand |
Kamala Harris |
She co-sponsored Senator Markey’s February 2019 Green New Deal Senate Resolution and released a blog and tweet supporting it. |
She did not co-sponsor the Keep It In the Ground Act or 100 by 50 Act of 2017. She has tweeted against the Keystone XL and Dakota Access Pipelines. |
She has not signed the pledge. |
Tweet at Senator Harris Call Senator Harris |
John Hickenlooper |
Hickenlooper wrote an op-ed in the Washington Post with the headline: “The Green New Deal sets us up for failure. We need a better approach.” |
Hickenlooper has been an outspoken supporter of the oil and gas industry in Colorado and even once drank Haliburton Co.’s patented CleanStim fracking fluid in an attempt to prove the industry did not pose a threat to the environment and public health. He also strongly opposed a 2018 statewide ballot initiative that would have kept fracking rigs a safe distance from schools and homes. |
He has not signed. He did commit to signing in New Hampshire on March 26, 2019, but then rescinded his signature that same night. Coverage & video here. |
Tweet at Gov. Hickenlooper |
Jay Inslee |
Inslee has voiced support of the Green New Deal and wants to repeal the Senate filibuster to pass federal climate legislation. “I am totally in sync and believe that it is exactly what I have said for decades,” he told David Roberts of Vox. |
As Governor of Washington, he denied permits for what would have been nation’s largest oil-by-rail terminal in 2018. Tweeted “We must stop new fossil fuel leasing so we can build a clean energy future” in March 2019. However, an ongoing campaign in Washington state against Puget Sound Energy’s Tacoma LNG terminal targets Inslee, and local groups are still urging him to reject the LNG proposal. |
Signed the pledge on January 8, 2019 |
Tweet at Governor Inslee |
Amy Klobuchar |
She co-sponsored Senator Markey’s February 2019 Green New Deal Senate Resolution and described GND as “aspirational” in a CNN. |
Did not co-sponsor the Keep It In the Ground Act or the 100 by 50 Act of 2017, but did vote no on the Keystone XL Pipeline. |
She has not signed the pledge. |
Tweet at Senator Klobuchar Call Senator Klobuchar |
Beto O’Rourke |
O’Rourke is “supportive of the concept” of a Green New Deal and at his first campaign event in Iowa said: “We have no more than twelve years to take incredibly bold action on this.” |
O’Rourke has supported natural gas as a bridge fuel and alternative to coal but has a limited voting and public comment record on Keep it in the Ground. |
O’Rourke was taken off the Pledge list of signers after violating it by accepting fossil fuel industry donations in his 2018 Senate bid. |
Tweet at Rep. O’Rourke |
Bernie Sanders |
He co-sponsored Senator Markey’s February 2019 Green New Deal Senate Resolution |
Co-sponsored the Keep It In the Ground Act and the 100 by 50 Act of 2017, voted no on the Keystone XL Pipeline, and organized a letter from 5 Senators to Pres. Obama opposing DAPL |
He has signed the pledge. |
Tweet at Senator Sanders Call Senator Sanders |
Elizabeth Warren |
She co-sponsored Senator Markey’s February 2019 Green New Deal Senate Resolution, said she supported “the idea of” a GND in Dec 2018, and has said her proposed “Ultra Millionaire Tax” could pay for GND. |
She has signed the pledge. |
Tweet at Senator Warren Call Senator Warren | |
Andrew Yang |
Yang has tweeted that he is “aligned and on board” for the Green New Deal and parts of his climate platform align with the Green New Deal. |
Yang’s platform calls for an end to subsidies to the fossil fuel industry and empowering the EPA to regulate carbon emissions while prioritizing renewable energy and sustainable infrastructure, but has not explicitly embraced a phaseout of fossil fuels. He equivocated when asked in New Hampshire in March 2019. |
Yang signed the pledge in New Hampshire in March 2019 |
Tweet at Andrew Yang |
Donald Trump |
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Trump opposes the climate solutions we need. Speak up to help replace him with a real climate leader in 2020. |
Add Your Name: Our Next President Must Pass the Climate Test
Add your name if you agree: Our next president needs to be a real climate leader. That means supporting a Green New Deal to create millions of good jobs transitioning to the 100% renewable energy-powered economy we need, opposing climate-wrecking fossil fuel projects, and refusing to take big polluters’ money.
Want to Dive Deeper?
Polling on the 2020 Climate Test
In March 2019, 350 Action and progressive think tank Data for Progress worked with polling firm YouGov Blue to survey voters about the questions on our climate test. The results: there’s strong support for bold climate solutions. Read our memo for our findings and analysis.
Sources and research
How are we deciding how each candidate scores on the climate test? Check out our research and tracking document for sources and more information on where the candidates stand.
Are candidates coming to your community?
With your help, we can mobilize to send a clear message to every candidate that our next President needs to pass the 2020 Climate Test. But to get a full field of candidates committed to real climate leadership, we need to take action across the country—especially in key stops on the campaign trail and in candidates’ home districts. We have created a toolkit to help you contact or bird-dog candidates if they’re coming to your community.
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