Bernie's Campaign Becomes 2020's First to Promise to Offset Their Carbon Emissions

By Aki Soga, The Burlington Free Press

21 March 19

 

en. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., pledged on Thursday that his 2020 presidential campaign will be carbon neutral, a promise similar to the one he made for his 2016 bid.

"Bernie 2020 today announced its commitment to renewable energy projects and offsetting all carbon emissions produced from campaign travel activities, as part of his longstanding commitment to the fight against global climate change," read a statement emailed by his campaign.

Sanders, who is seeking the Democratic presidential nomination, came under fire for spending nearly $300,000 to fly in a private jet to events supporting Democratic candidates during the 2018 midterm elections.

The Sanders campaign said it spent nearly $5,000 on carbon offsets to counter the impact of the jet travel on climate change.

Climate change is a recurring theme in Sanders' campaign speeches and the Vermont independent is one of the co-sponsors of the Green New Deal, an ambitious set of policies aimed at addressing economic inequality and climate change.

On Feb. 7, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-NY, and Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., introduced a Green New Deal resolution with the framework for the policies needed to achieve the initiative's goals.

Full Sanders' campaign statement

WASHINGTON – Bernie 2020 today announced its commitment to renewable energy projects and offsetting all carbon emissions produced from campaign travel activities, as part of his longstanding commitment to the fight against global climate change.

“Bernie Sanders is a champion in the fight for climate justice and, like him, we know we need to address our emissions through action, not just rhetoric,” said Faiz Shakir, campaign manager. “We are proud to lead the way in the fight against climate change by acting boldly to move our energy system away from fossil fuels and towards sustainable energy sources.”

In an effort to balance out the carbon emissions produced by travel activities associated with both himself and his staff, Sanders is partnering with NativeEnergy, a Vermont-based leader in emissions reduction project investments, to support renewable energy projects and invest in carbon reduction projects. Bernie 2020 will also offset event venue and attendee-related emissions.

In 2016, Bernie also offset the emissions from all of his staff’s campaign offices and travel activities, and he addressed the emissions from his 2018 Vermont Senate campaign by supporting an innovative emissions reduction project on a Vermont dairy farm.

Bernie is a co-sponsor of the Green New Deal resolution and has introduced the boldest legislation in the Senate to combat climate change by rapidly transitioning away from fossil fuels to 100 percent renewable energy, creating millions of good-paying jobs in the process.