Kamala Harris was in prosecutor mode during the second Democratic presidential debate, and said it’s not “climate change,” but “climate crisis,” which threatens our very existence as a species. Joe Biden promises 500,000 charging stations for our new, all-electric automobile fleet. Bernie Sanders wants to “up the ante” on the Paris climate accord and make the rest of the world go along with a drastic transformation of the energy system. Millions need to rise up in a revolution against the fossil-fuel industry, the insurance industry, corporate greed in general, he said, and “we only have 12 years.” Gov. Hickenlooper said Colorado is leading the way on tough methane regulations.
Some follow-up questions that didn’t get asked:
1. Would they outlaw gasoline-powered cars and diesel-powered trucks? How about trucks carrying diesel generators to rescue electric cars stranded between charging stations? How about emergency vehicles or farm equipment or excavation equipment with internal combustion engines?
2. What would supply back-up generating capacity when solar and wind facilities are not generating any power (say to supply those charging stations and keep the lights on in the operating room)?
3. How do we prosecute China for building hundreds of coal-fired generating stations?
4. Where do we get jet fuel for our public officials if our own industry is destroyed? From Iran?
5. Who will pay the hundreds of billions of dollars to Third-World dictators in reparations for our driving cars and using coal-generated electricity?
6. Does AOC think her mentor Bernie Sanders has the “social intelligence of a sea sponge” to believe her 12-year deadline for Doomsday?
7. What did Gov. Hickenlooper do about methane-emitting cows and termites in Colorado? Should we still be allowed to eat meat?
For other major issues related to atmospheric carbon dioxide and climate (wildfires, health effects, ocean acidification, sea-level rise, Arctic ice, hurricanes, and more), see Climate Change IQ test. How well does your favorite candidate do?