Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, the independent socialist turned 2016 Democratic presidential candidate, has praised the pope on climate change.
“Pope Francis’ powerful message on climate change should change the debate around the world and become a catalyst for the bold actions needed to reverse global warming,” Sanders said in a statement. “The pope helps us all see how those with the least among us will fare the worst from the consequences of climate change.”
Pope Francis released the 192-page encyclical on the environment Thursday, which begins and ends with prayers, but is considered to have policy implications and suggestions to create a new partnership between science and religion to combat the rise of climate change, which he argues is caused by humans.
“I very much appreciate that the Republican leadership has invited the pope to address Congress,” Sanders. “I hope they listen to what he has to say. Denying the science related to climate change is no longer acceptable.”
Sanders is Jewish, not Catholic, and states that he is non-religious.
A member of the Senate environment and energy committees, Sanders has proposed a carbon tax to discourage the use of coal and oil and other fossil fuels that was called “the gold standard” of climate change legislation by Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., the ranking member on the Environment and Public Works Committee.
The pope’s encyclical has already caused a stir on the campaign trail. When Catholic Republican hopeful Jeb Bush was pressed on the issue he replied that he doesn’t get his policy from his pope.
Former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley, another Democratic presidential candidate, released his own white paper on climate change. He declared that the United States has a “moral obligation” to address climate change and promised to put that at the center of his presidential campaign.
O’Malley calls for a complete transition to renewable energy, phasing out fossil fuels by 2050. He also states that within these 35 years the U.S. would create millions of new jobs by transitioning to clean energy. The former Maryland governor said he’d accomplish these tasks through executive action and pushing federal legislation.
While serving as governor, O’Malley pushed several initiatives to expand the use of solar energy catalyzed the state’s offshore wind power industry, and signed legislation creating tough vehicle emissions regulations.
