Because the next President will determine whether we continue to make progress or slide backward in the fight against the climate crisis, the League of Conservation Voters urges every presidential candidate to be explicit about their plans to combat the greatest challenge of our time. The next President must create real and lasting solutions that cut carbon pollution while creating a clean energy future that continues to improve the economy and creates jobs. As they hit the campaign trail all the presidential candidates have an opportunity to demonstrate exactly how they would do that. Below is a selection of quotes and coverage of how the announced candidates (and potential candidates) from both parties have spoken about the science of climate change, and their plans, if any, for tackling this historic challenge. REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES DONALD TRUMP (R) Trump Would “Cancel The Paris Climate Agreement,” And “Inaccurately” Stated That Foreign Nations Would Have Control Over How America Uses Energy. In a May 2016 speech to the North Dakota Petroleum Council, Trump said that in his first 100 days in office, he would “cancel the Paris Climate Agreement and stop all payments of U.S. tax dollars to U.N. global warming programs.” The New York Times reported, “In his speech, he complained, inaccurately: ‘This agreement gives foreign bureaucrats control over how much energy we use on our land, in our country. No way.’ In fact, at the heart of the Paris Agreement are voluntary pledges put forward by the governments of over 190 nations, laying out plans to lower emissions. No government has control over the emissions-reduction plans of other governments. [Donald Trump Press Release, 5/26/16; New York Times, 5/27/16] Trump Was “Not A Big Fan” Of The Paris Climate Accord, And Would Renegotiate “At A Minimum.” In a May 2016 interview with Reuters, Trump “said he is ‘not a big fan’ of the Paris climate accord, which prescribes reductions in carbon emissions by more than 170 countries. He said he would want to renegotiate the deal because it treats the United States unfairly and gives favorable treatment to countries like China. ‘I will be looking at that very, very seriously, and at a minimum I will be renegotiating those agreements, at a minimum. And at a maximum I may do something else,’ he said. A renegotiation of the pact would be a major setback for what was hailed as the first truly global climate accord, committing both rich and poor nations to reining in the rise in greenhouse gas emissions blamed for warming the planet.” [Reuters, 5/18/16] Trump: Global Warming “Of The Nuclear Variety” Is “The One We Have To Be Careful Of.” During a May 2016 campaign stop in Terre Haute, Indiana, Trump said, “We have Obama – you know, global warming, to him, is the single biggest problem in our country, if you can believe that one. I believe global warming is the single biggest problem in our country, but it’s made of the nuclear variety. That’s the one we have to be careful of. We better be damn, damn tough, and damn careful, because nuclear is your problem with global warming. We have a president that talks about global warming and he doesn’t talk about all these other problems.” [American Bridge, 160501_PH_871_A (12:30), 5/1/16 (video available from American Bridge)] Trump: “Our Military Is Depleted, And We’re Asking Our Generals And Military Leaders To Worry About Global Warming.” During An April 2016 foreign policy speech, Trump said, “Our military is depleted, and we’re asking our generals and military leaders to worry about global warming. We will spend what we need to rebuild our military. It is the cheapest investment we can make. We will develop, build and purchase the best equipment known to mankind. Our military dominance must be unquestioned.” [Trump Campaign Website, 4/27/16] Trump: “The Only Global Warming I’m Worried About Is Nuclear Global Warming.” During a May 2016 Republican 2