SEC. CLINTON: “I think it’s both, Jimmy. I think some people do believe it. When you hear them say, as they often, do, “I’m not a scientist,” my response that that is, “Go talk to one, and maybe you could get some information that would enlighten you or educate you about the problems that climate change is confronting us with,” because it IS an existential crisis. I think some [candidates] are doing it because they have strong supporters, people who are maybe from the fossil fuel industry, for example, and they don’t want to cross them. So, they adopt that position, and whether they really believe it, or it’s just political opportunism, I can’t tell. But, the fact is, it’s hurting our country, and what I don’t understand is, there are huge economic opportunities here. st If we were the clean energy superpower of the 21 century, we would create millions of new good jobs and businesses, and we would transition away from fossil fuels, and help the climate at the same time. [ABC, 11/5/15] Sec. Clinton: “Significant” Bilateral Agreement Between United States And China Needs To Go Further; At Paris Talks, “We Must Get Verifiable Commitments To Fight Climate Change From Every Country There.” During the October 13, 2015 Democratic primary debate, Sec. Clinton said, “When we met in Copenhagen in 2009 … President Obama and I were hunting for the Chinese, going throughout this huge convention center because we knew we had to get them to agree to something, because there will be no effective efforts against climate change unless China and India join with the rest of the world. They told us they'd left for the airport. We found out they were having a secret meeting. We marched up, we broke in and said we've been looking all over for you, let's sit down and talk about what we need to do and we did come up with the first international agreement that China has signed. Thanks to President Obama’s leadership, it has gone much further. I do think that the bilateral agreement President Obama made with the Chinese was significant. It needs to go further, and there will be an international meeting at the end of this year, and we must get verifiable commitments to fight climate change from every country there … I have been on the forefront of dealing with climate change starting in 2009 when President Obama and I crashed a meeting with the Chinese and got them to sign up to the first international agreement to combat climate change that they'd ever joined. So, I'm not taking a back seat to anybody on my values, my principles and the results that I get.” [CNN Debate, 10/13/15] Sec. Clinton Op-Ed: “Pope Francis Is Right … We Must Lead The Charge” To Act On Climate Change. In a September 2015 National Catholic Recorder op-ed, Sec. Clinton wrote, “Pope Francis is right. All countries and all people are responsible for preventing the worst impacts of climate change. But countries like the United States have a particular role. We are rich, powerful, and blessed with many advantages. We must lead the charge.” [Hillary Clinton op-ed, National Catholic Reporter, 9/25/15] Sec. Clinton Thanked Pope Francis For His Call To “Protect Our Environment.” In September 2015, Sec. Clinton tweeted, “Gracias, @Pontifex. Tenemos que cuidar el medio ambiente, crear oportunidades económicas y defender los derechos y la dignidad de todos.” Translated, the statement reads, “Thank you, @Pontifex. We need to protect our environment, create economic opportunities and defend the rights and the dignity of all.” [HillaryClinton Twitter, 9/24/15] Sec. Clinton: “Hard To Believe” Some Presidential Candidates Don’t Accept “Settled Science Of Climate Change.” In a July 2015 campaign video Sec. Clinton said, “It’s hard to believe there are people running for president who still refuse to accept the settled science of climate change, who would rather remind us they’re not a scientist than listen to those who are. You don’t have to be a scientist to take on the urgent challenge that threatens us all. You just have to be willing to act.” [Hillary Clinton YouTube Channel, 7/26/15] Sec. Clinton: Pope Is Right, “Climate Change Is A Moral Crisis That Disproportionately Harms The Neediest Among Us.” In response to the Pope’s encyclical on the moral responsibility to combat climate change, Sec. Clinton tweeted: “@Pontifex is right—climate change is a moral crisis that disproportionately harms the neediest among us. We need leadership, not denial.” [Twitter, 6/15/15] 8