Letter to CBS Moderators: Ask Vance and Walz about Climate in Aftermath of Helene

September 30, 2024

TO: Margaret Brennan and Norah O’Donnell, CBS News

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Dear Ms. Brennan and Ms. O’Donnell,

We are thrilled that you will moderate tomorrow’s high-stakes vice presidential debate between Governor Tim Walz and Senator JD Vance. 

As the only scheduled VP debate – and with former President Donald Trump still rebuffing calls for a second meeting with Vice President Kamala Harris – this may well be voters’ last opportunity to see the two tickets on the same stage, each pressed to clearly explain their positions on key issues and outline their contrasting visions for America.

The undersigned organizations – collectively representing millions of Americans – write to respectfully implore you to ask the Vice Presidential candidates about climate change and clean energy in Tuesday’s debate. 

We write to you just as the historic devastation from Hurricane Helene is becoming clear. More than 100 people have died, communities are stranded without access to clean water, power, or cell service, and over 600 people are still recorded missing in Western North Carolina. It will take years and billions of dollars to rebuild. 

FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell confirmed the climate crisis intensified Hurricane Helene and the fallout from the storm is a stark reminder of the very real costs of climate change. Kamala Harris and Tim Walz know climate change is real and costly — Trump and Vance are still denying it even exists. 

This issue is particularly salient given the sharp contrast between the two Vice Presidential nominees. While Governor Walz strengthened Minnesota’s disaster resistance response and helped establish Minnesota as a clean energy leader, Vance has established himself as a leading climate denier and voted against the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that invested nearly $1 million to protect communities from extreme weather.  

Like Trump, Vance has vehemently and dishonestly railed against clean energy, even as the Biden-Harris clean energy plan has brought roughly $10 billion and 14,000 new jobs to Ohio. And he has baselessly smeared VP Harris for “waging war on American energy” even as her administration has overseen record domestic energy production.

The choice before voters could not be more stark: Will we continue to combat the climate crisis and invest in clean energy, turbocharging American manufacturing while giving families more affordable and reliable energy choices? Or will we reject climate science in the face of catastrophe, stifle America’s booming clean energy economy, and allow Big Oil to pollute and profiteer without constraint or competition?

Tuesday’s debate likely represents the last chance to bring that question into focus with each ticket empowered to make its case to millions of voters who will soon cast their ballots, and we trust you will seize that opportunity. Thank you in advance for this tremendous public service.

Sincerely,

Better Earth

Center for American Progress Action Fund

Clean Air Moms Action

Clean Energy For America

Climate Power

EDF Action

Evergreen Action

Extreme Weather Survivors Action Fund

Food & Water Action

Greenpeace USA

Green New Deal Network

League of Conservation Voters

NRDC Action Fund

RISE

Sierra Club

Sunrise Movement

Time for Better

Wilderness Society Action Fund