We’ve already completed day three of the 2020 Democratic National Convention. Throughout the convention so far, climate has been mentioned by 51 speakers. Tonight, climate and environmental justice was a clear top focus, with a dedicated segment featuring video remarks from young climate activists and an address by New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham. 

Tonight placed a spotlight on Joe Biden’s long-time leadership addressing the climate crisis, and his vision for a clean energy future backed up by his plans to get it done.

Some notable quotes from the night include: 

• President Barack Obama, the greenest president in history: “Joe knows the world, and the world knows him. He knows that our true strength comes from setting an example that the world wants to follow, a nation that stands with democracy, not dictators, a nation that can inspire and mobilize others to overcome threats like climate change and terrorism, poverty and disease.”
• Secretary Hillary Clinton: “Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are going to give us so much to vote for. Let’s vote for the jobs that Joe’s plan will create: clean energy jobs to fight climate change.”
• Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the most pro-environment Speaker in history: “We have sent the Senate bills for lower health care costs, bigger paychecks, cleaner government, protecting John Lewis’ voting rights, and enacting George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. We have sent the Senate bills to protect our Dreamers, LGBTQ equality, to prevent gun violence, and to preserve our planet for future generations, and even more.”
• Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, New Mexico’s first Democratic Latina governor who was elected with critical support from LCV’s state affiliate Conservation Voters New Mexico: “I’m proud that New Mexico has shown what climate leadership looks like. While the Trump administration has been eliminating environmental protections, we’ve expanded them…We’re laying a roadmap here for what America can and should look like in the 21st Century…We know time is running out to save our planet. We have the chance this November to end two existential crises: The Trump presidency and the environmental annihilation he represents. We have the chance this November to attack the climate crisis, invest in green 21st Century jobs, and embrace the clean energy revolution our country, our young people, are crying out for and the leadership the rest of the world is waiting for. The choice is clear. The choice is Joe Biden.” Watch her full remarks here.
• Senator Elizabeth Warren: “I love a good plan, and Joe Biden has some really good plans—plans to bring back union jobs in manufacturing and create new union jobs in clean energy.” 
• Secretary Hilda Solis: “Creating millions of jobs by investing in clean energy. That’s building back better.”
• IBEW journeyman wireman Rob Bair of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania:  “That’s Joe’s plan: create millions of new good paying jobs — many of them union, like mine…A clean energy future that achieves net-zero by 2050. Because we can’t power the economies of the future without investing in the technologies of the future….Joe’s America will lead the world on clean energy. Will lead on job creation. And America will lead the world again on climate.”

Tonight, these powerful stories were shared by three speakers who are directly impacted by the climate crisis:

• Alexandra Villaseñor, 15-year old climate activist: “I was 13 when the campfire, the most destructive wildfire in California’s history broke out. We were visiting family nearly a hundred miles away but my asthma flared badly. I could hardly breathe. I’ve been organizing young people around climate change since 2018. Climate change is impacting us now, and it’s robbing my generation of a future. For young people my age every aspect of our lives from where we go to school to what kind of careers we’ll have to whether or not we can raise a family depends on us taking climate change seriously right now. Joe Biden won’t solve this crisis in four years. No one can, but he will put us back on track so that my generation can have a fighting chance. I’m asking you to join us. don’t let our futures go up in flames.”
• Katherine Lorenzo, climate activist and former senior organizer with LCV’s Chispa Nevada: “I grew up in a low-income neighborhood – where pollution rates are often higher than wealthier areas, and a lot of kids have asthma. Switching to renewable energy would mean cleaner air, better health, and a steadier income for folks in neighborhoods like mine—Because solar PV installers and wind turbine techs are some of the fastest growing jobs in the country. And Joe Biden’s plan is transformative—he knows that saving the planet isn’t just a challenge to overcome. It’s an opportunity for a better way of life.”
• Andrew Adamski, co-owner of Full Circle Community Farm in Wisconsin and volunteer with LCV’s state affiliate Wisconsin Conservation Voters: “The corn growers near my parents’ farm have a saying: Knee-high by the Fourth of July. These days, we’re lucky if the corn is even planted because of unpredictable and torrential spring rains. Us farmers can see the effects of climate change happening right in front of us, so we’ve been trying to do our part. We’re adopting sustainable solutions on my family’s farm, switching to a community model using less land and reusing our resources to grow our food. We’re eliminating tons of carbon pollution every year. Farmers can be part of the climate solution instead of a problem. Today we all can grow our own future, but we need our leaders to be part of the solution as well instead of part of the problem. We need them to commit to science, not ignore it. We need them to put real plans on the table rather than roll them back. That’s what Joe Biden is doing with his clean energy revolution. instead of being left behind we could lead the world again.”

And, of course, we celebrated the historic nomination of Senator Kamala Harris and her inspiring acceptance speech, including her opening call for everyone to be able to participate safely in the election. As a reminder, Senator Harris has a long record championing climate and environmental justice since her time as San Francisco’s District Attorney.

We’re excited for night four!

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Paid for by the League of Conservation Voters Action Fund, www.lcvactionfund.org, and not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee