Hillary Clinton on Climate Change
Hillary Clinton has consistently articulated a strong stance on climate change, framing it as an urgent threat and the defining challenge of our time that endangers the economy, national security, and the health of future generations. Her approach emphasizes American leadership in transitioning to a clean energy economy, aiming to create millions of jobs through innovation and investment.
Her policy proposals included setting bold national goals to be achieved within ten years of taking office, such as generating renewable energy to power every American home and significantly cutting national oil consumption. Clinton aimed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 30 percent by 2025 relative to 2005 levels, putting the country on a path toward an over 80 percent reduction by 2050.
Throughout her career, from First Lady to Secretary of State, Clinton has demonstrated a deep commitment to environmental protection and addressing the climate crisis. She supports defending and extending existing pollution standards, such as the Clean Power Plan, and promised to make combating climate change a top priority from day one as President.
Context
Hillary Clinton's relevance to climate change policy stems from her extensive background in executive and legislative roles, including her time as First Lady, U.S. Senator, and Secretary of State.
Her tenure as Secretary of State included efforts to elevate the issue internationally, such as appointing a Special Envoy for Climate Change.
During her presidential campaigns, her policy proposals were closely scrutinized, often compared to those of Barack Obama, and she frequently engaged with environmental groups like the League of Conservation Voters (LCV).
Timeline
- As Secretary of State, Clinton took the lead in launching the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves.
- As a presidential candidate, Clinton announced her policy proposal, aligning with the Obama administration's approach but committing to aggressive domestic targets.
- Released a statement strongly applauding the conclusion of the Paris Climate Change Agreement.
- Campaigning in Florida with Al Gore, Clinton emphasized that climate change must be a voting issue and criticized political opponents who dismissed the issue.
Actions Taken
- LegislationAuthored and led on bills while in the U.S. Senate to improve energy efficiency in federal buildings and promote clean fuel use in public transportation and rural production.
- LegislationCo-sponsored Senate bills aimed at combating climate change by reducing carbon pollution, investing in clean energy, and directing the EPA to reduce pollutants from power plants.
- LegislationCo-sponsored a bill in the Senate to repeal subsidies provided to Big Oil companies.
- Voting RecordVoted against the Energy Policy Act of 2005, one of only 26 Senators to do so, which was considered highly detrimental to the environment at the time.
- State Department InitiativeAppointed the first-ever Special Envoy for Climate Change at the State Department while serving as Secretary of State.
Key Quotes
Climate change is real, it's urgent and America can take the lead in the world in addressing it. We can develop new clean energy solutions. We can transform our economy. We can rally the world to cut carbon pollution. And we can fulfill our moral obligation to protect this planet for our children and our grandchildren.
The science of climate change is unforgiving, no matter what the deniers may say. Sea levels are rising; ice caps are melting; storms, droughts and wildfires are wreaking havoc. … If we act decisively now we can still head off the most catastrophic consequences.
I applaud President Obama, Secretary Kerry and our negotiating team for helping deliver a new, ambitious international climate agreement in Paris. This is an historic step forward in meeting one of the greatest challenges of the 21st century—the global crisis of climate change.
Comparison
- Comparison to Obama's Stance: Her record and stated positions on climate and energy were generally seen as being cut from the same cloth as President Obama's, though her campaign chair, John Podesta, also focused on climate policy during the Obama years.
- View on Energy Policy: Like Obama and Podesta, Clinton subscribed to an all-of-the-above energy policy, which included promoting domestic drilling for oil and natural gas, including fracking, alongside clean energy promotion.
- Opposition to Political Opponents: She explicitly sought to contrast herself with opponents like Donald Trump, whom she labeled a climate change infidel, making the issue a key differentiator in the 2016 election.
Sources5
Hillary Clinton Statement on the Paris Climate Change Agreement
* This is not an exhaustive list of sources.