Sen. Sanders: “Public Consciousness Is Growing That Climate Change Is Real … People Are Saying, Yes, We Better Do Something About It.” On October 21, 2015, Sen. Sanders sat down with MSNBC’s Chris Hayes for an interview. During the interview, Sen. Sanders said, “I think public consciousness is growing that climate change is real. People are seeing it with their own eyes. They're seeing it in California in the droughts. They're seeing it in the southwest and other areas in terms of forest fires, which are worse and more numerous than used to be the case. They're seeing it in a heat wave in Pakistan. They're seeing it with their own eyes, and people are saying, yes, we better do something about it … I think the issue of climate change is on the minds than a lot more people than the pundits think. And I think it is growing. I think people are just very, very concerned. The evidence scientifically and what people are saying it's so real that people are saying, hey, I'm worried about my kids and grandchildren and what kind of planet they will be living in.” [MSNBC, 10/21/15] Sen. Sanders: Man-Made Climate Change Is Real, And “We Have A Moral Responsibility” To Transition From Fossil Fuels To Sustainable Energy. During the October 13, 2015 Democratic primary debate, Sen. Sanders said, “Today, the scientific community is virtually unanimous: climate change is real. It is caused by human activity, and we have a moral responsibility to transform our energy system away from fossil fuel to energy efficiency and sustainable energy and leave this planet a habitable planet for our children and our grandchildren.” [CNN Debate, 10/13/15] Sen. Sanders: “I Believe Climate Change Is Absolutely Real.” In October 2015, Sen. Sanders said, “What I’ve found in Vermont and around the country is that we go to people and say, ‘Look, we do have differences. I believe in gay marriage. I’m not going to change your view if you don’t. I believe climate change is absolutely real, and some of you do not. But how many of you think we should give hundreds of billions in tax breaks to the richest 1 percent?” [Washington Post, 10/4/15] Sen. Sanders: Pope Francis Sent Proud And Significant Message That “God’s Earth” Must Be Protected From Climate Change.” In September 2015, CNN reported, “Sanders, who is Jewish and … was observing the important Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur, said he also appreciates that the Pope is speaking ‘very proudly and significantly about climate change,’ sending a message that ‘God's earth’ must be protected. The displeasure with that message from conservatives also doesn't surprise Sanders. ‘That's the pushback from the Koch brothers, and Exxon Mobil and the fossil fuel industry. But that's his courage,’ Sanders said. ‘That's what I admire about him, his audacity and his courage.’” [CNN, 9/23/15] Sen. Sanders: Climate Change Is The “Greatest Threat” To Our Planet; “Scientific Community Is Virtually Unanimous” That Climate Change Is Real. During an August 2015 campaign stop in New Hampshire, Sen. Sanders said, “Climate change is the greatest threat facing the planet.” He added, “The scientific community is virtually unanimous: climate change is real. Climate change is caused by human activity.” [Daily Signal, 8/1/15] Sen. Sanders Agreed “Very Strongly With Pope Francis That Climate Change Is The Great Planetary Crisis, Environmental Crisis That We Face.” In July 2015, Sen. Sanders said, “I happen to agree very strongly with Pope Francis that climate change is the great planetary crisis, environmental crisis that we face.” [National Journal, 7/14/15] Sen. Sanders: U.S. Must “Lead The World In Tackling Climate Change” For The Sake Of Future Generations. According to Sen. Sanders’ campaign website, “The United States must lead the world in tackling climate change to make certain that this planet is habitable for our children and grandchildren … Unless we take bold action to address climate change, our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren are going to look back on this period in history and ask a very simple question: Where were they? Why didn’t the United States of America, the most powerful nation on earth, lead the international community in cutting greenhouse gas emissions and preventing the devastating damage that the scientific community was sure would come?” [Bernie Sanders 2016 Website, Climate Change & Environment] 11