Biden gets D-minus on climate

Joe Biden got a D-minus on a climate change report card ranking US Democratic presidential candidates released yesterday by the environmental group Greenpeace. Biden, the Democratic frontrunner, has yet to release a detailed plan on how he will combat climate change. But the scorecard evaluated 19 candidates on their commitments to ending the use of fossil fuels and support for environmental policies based on statements, legislative records and published plans. Some candidates also responded to a 29-question survey from the environmental group. The report comes as the issue of climate change has emerged as a marquee issue for Democrats on the 2020 campaign trail following the release of New York Representative Alexandria OcasioCortez’s ambitious plan to fight climate change called “The Green New Deal”. Support for that initiative was part of the Greenpeace score. Washington Governor Jay Inslee, who is basing his run for president on the need to fight climate change, received the highest score, an A-minus, on the report card. The next highest were Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders and New Jersey Senator Cory Booker, who each received a B-plus.