“Brazil has long been a strong leader in the global fight against tobacco, and this lawsuit against tobacco companies marks another important step forward. Brazil’s public health care system is forced to spend billions every year to treat tobacco-related illness and disease, and tobacco companies must be held accountable. I applaud the Brazilian government for taking action, and for protecting the right to health that its constitution guarantees for all citizens.”
Background on Bloomberg & Tobacco Control
Michael R. Bloomberg has long been focused on improving public health—during his time as New York City Mayor, in his work through his foundation, Bloomberg Philanthropies, and now in his role as the World Health Organization Global Ambassador for Noncommunicable Diseases.
Bloomberg Philanthropies has committed nearly $1 billion since 2007 to combat tobacco use worldwide. The Bloomberg Initiative to Reduce Tobacco Use partners with low- and middle-income countries to reduce tobacco use through a comprehensive, proven approach that combines evidence-based policy change with increased public awareness. Key strategies of this approach include creating smoke-free public places, banning tobacco advertising, increasing tax on tobacco products, requiring graphic pack warnings and supporting hard-hitting mass media campaigns.
On May 17, 2019, Michael R. Bloomberg served as Commencement Speaker at the Washington University in St. Louis University commencement ceremony. These are his remarks as delivered.
“In composing my remarks, I thought about the fact that Wash U. was originally named Eliot Seminary after one of the founders, Reverend William Eliot. Apparently, he was uncomfortable naming things after himself. So the board of trustees at the time changed the name of the school to honor George Washington.
“I can appreciate what Reverend Eliot was thinking. I hate it when people name things after themselves – we had a story about that recently on Bloomberg Television and Bloomberg Radio, maybe it was in Bloomberg Businessweek or Bloomberg News, who knows.
“In all seriousness, the board back then made an inspiring decision to choose Washington. And anyone who thinks this school is in D.C. or near Seattle clearly hasn’t been paying attention.
“It seems fitting that an institution named for Washington has played such an important role in presidential elections in recent decades. Wash U. has hosted a number of nationally televised debates including the last one you saw in 2016.
“Hosting a presidential debate is an experience that few schools or students get. But I can’t stand here and tell you it provided a great civics lesson. I wish I could.
“Instead of focusing on the critical issues facing the country, that debate was more about locker room talk and lock her up. Lincoln-Douglas, I think it’s fair to say, it was not.
“That brings me to the topic du jour. It would be easy to blame the candidates or the moderators for the poor quality of that debate. But the problem runs much deeper.
“All across America – at family gatherings, in social settings and workplaces, on college campuses, and certainly on social media, Americans are losing the ability to conduct civil and productive dialogue with those who hold different political views.
“That has profound implications for our ability to function as a society. After all, when you can’t talk with one another, you can’t understand one another. When we can’t understand one another, we can’t work together. When we can’t work together, we can’t do anything. At least not anything big and important.
“We face a lot of hard challenges in America today – from climate change, to gun violence, to failing schools, to the opioid epidemic, and on campuses from the frightening trend toward racism, sexism, hatred, anti-Semitism, and intolerance of unpopular views and opinions.
“To have any hope of overcoming these challenges, we have to start by reclaiming our civic dialogue from those who are debasing and degrading it – and preventing us from getting things done.
“All of you can help do that – no matter what your politics are and no matter what line of work you pursue later on. Maybe your passion is science or the environment. Or the arts or education. Or medicine or health care. Or business. There is not a single issue that isn’t affected by political debates. And there is not a single issue that isn’t threatened by the breakdown in our civic discourse.
“So even if you hate politics – and there are a lot of reasons to hate politics these days – you will have to engage in political dialogue, if only to survive Thanksgiving dinner with your crazy uncle. And you will have to judge the arguments made by candidates if you are going to vote intelligently.
“The question I hope you will ask yourself is: on what basis will you make those judgments?
“It would be natural to think that a degree from one of America’s top colleges has prepared you as a skilled judge of political debates. But unfortunately a recent study found that the smartest and most knowledgeable voters can actually be the worst judges. And the reason is they are most likely to make judgments based on which party is making the argument rather than on the argument itself.
“Now, I know what you’re thinking, ‘I would never do that,’ you say. But it happens unconsciously all the time. People have a tendency to assume the worst about those on the other side of the aisle. And when it comes to those on your side, they tend to see no evil, hear no evil and speak no evil. That’s why educated and knowledgeable people excuse these actions that are ethically wrong and defend statements that are blatant lies.
“Of course, some people say defending the indefensible is just politics as usual, but I don’t accept that – and I hope you won’t either.
“When extreme partisanship replaces reason, logic, facts and data, the country suffers – and special interests win. I’ve seen it time and time again, on issue after issue: gun violence, education, public health, and even one that threatens life as we know it: climate change.
“Yesterday, I stood with Wash U.’s next Chancellor, Andrew Martin, and the President of Ohio State University to announce that Bloomberg Philanthropies will help sponsor the first-ever climate summit of Midwestern universities next year right here on this campus.
“We were joined by your mayor here, Lyda Krewson, because St. Louis, like Wash U., has always been a real leader on climate change.
“Last year, this city was one of the winners of a climate competition my foundation ran. And we are now providing about $2.5 million of resources to help St. Louis increase energy efficiency and expand solar power – a goal that Wash U. is helping the city to achieve. Thank you very much.
“Universities have a critical role to play in helping our country tackle this challenge, and I want to thank everyone at Wash U. who has been part of that work.
“There really is no time to waste. The problems driven by climate change are getting worse – and that’s something you’ve seen right here during your lifetime.
“The recent Mississippi River floods have affected life in St. Louis and they have devastated farmers across the Midwest. Those types of natural disasters will continue to get more severe with climate change, according to the best scientific data.
“The trouble is too many politicians aren’t interested in hard science. They’re only interested in political science and winning their next election. So they ignore the data, they try to cut funding for climate research – because they know it will undermine their political argument. Sometimes, they even try to block public employees from uttering the words climate change.
“You can’t make this stuff up. You just have to wonder, what are they trying to hide? The only conclusion I have drawn is that they’re either hiding their own ignorance or their own bad faith.
“Either way, when government tries to gag scientists and censors our conclusions watch out and speak up.
“America’s progress depends on a dialogue that treats these issues not as pawns in a political battle, but as problems to be solved. Ignoring data and facts – and defending indefensible positions – happens in both parties. But during your time on campus, it has enabled new levels of dishonesty and wrongdoing and it has reached a point that, I believe, no democracy can long sustain.
“Our democracy – as the Founding Fathers understood – relies on more than just votes. George Washington wrote in his Farewell Address, ‘Virtue or morality is a necessary spring of popular government.’
“If the spring runs dry, democracy withers away – and the rights that we hold dear disappear.
“Graduates, that spring of virtue is now yours to protect. And make no mistake, it is more polluted with toxic dialogue than it has ever been in modern history.
“The good news is the way to clean up the pollution can be found in the three words written on the cover of your diploma. It’s the motto of this great university: Per Veritatem Vis – Strength Through Truth. And it’s a motto that fits perfectly with a university named for George Washington.
“In 1794, during President Washington’s second term, there was a faction ginning up support for secession. Washington recognized the threat it posed – and he was confident that it would not succeed. He wrote in a letter, and I quote, ‘It is not difficult by concealment of some facts, and exaggeration of others to bias a well-meaning mind, at least for a time.’
“But, he continued, ‘Truth will ultimately prevail where pains is taken to bring it to light.’
“Now, I know the phrase ‘pains is taken’ probably just horrified every English major here. As kids we were taught that Washington never told a lie, but they never told us he had trouble with subject-verb agreements.
“In fairness to George, ‘pains is taken’ is the way they spoke back then. Today, Washington would probably say take pains.
“But really, Washington’s point, and Washington U.’s motto, are principles I hope that all of you will take to heart: truth will prevail where pains are taken to bring it to light. And with truth comes strength.
“The pains that every generation has taken to bring truth to light are why secession didn’t succeed in 1794 or 1861. The pains taken by abolitionists, and suffragettes, and civil rights marchers, and marriage equality advocates brought America’s core truth to light: that all people are created equal.
“Today, the necessity of taking pains to bring truth to light is greater than ever because the tools for spreading lies are more powerful than ever.
“Since the dawn of democracy, there have always been those – to paraphrase Socrates – who try to make the weaker argument appear the stronger and who care more about winning debates than being truthful.
“In ancient Greece, these were called Sophists – and they would have loved Twitter and Facebook.
“Social media has given rise to a new golden age of sophistry – aided and abetted by blind partisanship. The only way to overcome it – the only way to lift our national discourse out of the gutter – is to heed Washington’s words and take pains to bring truth to light.
“Those pains are the burden of citizenship in a democracy. And a great education does not relieve them. It intensifies them. This is especially true, I believe, for graduates of a university bearing the name Washington.
“All of you have been part of this institution’s long tradition of advocacy and activism. Don’t leave it behind. Carry it with you, and take on this challenge to bring truth to light.
“To help you get started, let me offer some quick advice for dealing with modern-day sophists who try to obscure – and deny – truth.
“When those in the political arena engage in name-calling and other schoolyard chants, and are trying to distract your attention away from the real issues and from their inability to address them or their unwillingness to put forward practical solutions – don’t be distracted.
“When they tolerate attacks on minority groups, especially those who profess a faith that some find threatening, they are empowering those who traffic in hatred – don’t tolerate it.
“When they denounce journalists as ‘enemies of the state,’ and declare any critical coverage to be ‘fake news,’ and dress up lies as ‘alternative facts,’ they are trying to fool you into trusting only the news that comes from their mouths – don’t be fooled.
“When they exaggerate the risks we face from immigrants without talking about all the benefits they have brought to our country they are preying on people’s fears – don’t let them get away with it.
“When they try to tell you who you can love, or even who you can be, they are either pandering for votes or playing God – don’t put up with it.
“When they promise you a free lunch, or free college, free medical care, or free income, remember that a bill always comes due – don’t let them pass the buck.
“When they prevent speakers from being heard, by shouting them down or creating spaces where differing opinions are not permitted, they are trying to win arguments by bullying and censorship instead of facts and reason. Don’t let them suppress free speech even when you find that speech to be deplorable. Protecting their right to speak is the only way to protect your right to speak.
“When people romanticize the past, just remember something my mother who lived to 102 told me: the good old days were never that good.
“And finally, when leaders wrap themselves in the flag, or the national anthem, and try to make you think that critics of your government don’t love and respect our country, real patriotism isn’t about honoring symbols. Real patriotism is about bringing truth to light, and when action is required standing up and taking action.
“In other words, real patriotism is about taking pains. So if you remember nothing else from today, remember that phrase.
“Graduates, as you leave this great university I hope you will take the pains that are necessary to preserve and extend our democracy. Take pains to understand the other side. Take pains to expose lies. Take pains to reject scapegoating and xenophobia. Take pains not to fall for easy answers. And take pains to hold our leaders accountable for their words and their deeds.
“If you do that I have no doubt that truth – and America – will prevail. And my generation will be able to say as we pass the leadership torch to yours the same words that Washington spoke with his last breath: ‘Tis well.
“So tonight, have one last drink, maybe at T’s, dance to your own beat, and tomorrow, get to work. The world needs you more than ever.
“Congratulations, and good luck.”
Mike Bloomberg, the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Climate Action, announced that for the second year in a row he will make up the funding gap left by the United States federal government and provide $5.5 million to the United Nations Climate Change Secretariat to ensure it can continue its critical work empowering countries to meet the goals outlined in the Paris Agreement. The announcement, along with the $4.5 million he contributed last year for the same purpose, brings his support for the United Nations Climate Change Secretariat to a total of $10 million in the past two years.
The former federal administration committed a total of $15 million to the United Nations Climate Change Secretariat for the two year 2018-2019 funding cycle. In 2018 the United States transferred only $2.5 million to the United Nations Climate Change Secretariat and is expected to deliver the same amount this year. Mike’s contributions realize his promise from June 2017 to fill the significant gap caused by the current administration’s failure to act on the pledges made under the Paris Agreement. Mike will make additional funds available should the U.S. government again fail to pay its share of the UN climate budget in 2020. Due to Mike’s leadership, the United States remains on track to uphold its financial commitment.
“The United States made a promise to meet the goals outlined in the Paris Agreement – and if the federal government won’t hold up our end of the deal, then the American people must,” said Michael R. Bloomberg, UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Climate Action, founder of Bloomberg LP and Bloomberg Philanthropies, and three-term mayor of New York City. “As mayors, governors, business leaders, and private citizens across the country work to ensure that we meet our climate targets, our foundation will again cover the difference in federal funding to the United Nations. Together, we’re sending a loud, clear message to the rest of the world: regardless of what’s happening in Washington, we’re in this fight with you.”
As the Special Envoy for Climate Action, Bloomberg has been a leading advocate for climate action, both nationally and globally. When the federal government announced its intention to withdraw from the Paris Agreement, Mike launched the “We Are Still In” declaration and created America’s Pledge with former California Governor Jerry Brown. By catalyzing climate commitments from thousands of non-federal actors including cities, states, and businesses, and reporting on their progress each year, these efforts have demonstrated that the United States remains committed to the goals outlined under the Paris Agreement, regardless of federal inaction. Thanks to initiatives already taken by cities, states and businesses to reduce carbon emissions, the United States is already almost halfway to meeting its 2025 Paris Agreement goal. To better equip cities in their efforts Bloomberg additionally launched the American Cities Climate Challenge, a $70 million two-year acceleration program designed to empower Mayors to meet and beat their near-term carbon reduction goals in line with the Paris Agreement.
“With the effects of climate change already apparent – and accelerating – we need urgent action now to protect people and the planet,” said United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres. “As we look ahead to the September Climate Action Summit in New York, I am grateful to my Special Envoy, Mike Bloomberg, for his support for the United Nations Climate Change secretariat and his work to catalyze the kind of climate solutions we need on both a national and global scale.”
“The success of the Paris Agreement and global efforts to address climate change are contingent upon bold action from governments, private sector and civil society,” said UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa. “UN Climate Change Secretariat thanks Mike Bloomberg for his ongoing support for global climate action and welcomes his generous contribution to better assist countries in realizing their Paris goals.”
Bloomberg Philanthropies’ continued funding will cover some basic cost of operations at the Secretariat’s headquarters in Bonn. With financial support from Mike, the UN will be able to strengthen its efforts to promote climate action among non-states actors such as cities, regions, business and civil society, invest in communications and emerging technology, and continue to ensure that the world makes progress on international carbon reduction goals.
In an op-ed in The Detroit News, Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Mike Bloomberg write:
“Opioid overdose strikes without prejudice. We’ve both seen this firsthand. From Detroit to Grand Rapids, Staten Island to the Bronx, the epidemic isn’t just at our doorsteps — it’s inside our homes. It’s taking our loved ones at a higher rate than gun violence and car crashes, and it’s ravaging families and communities across our country.
An American dies from an opioid overdose every 11 minutes. This is a public health crisis — and a full-blown national emergency. We need a response bold enough to stop it.
In the last two years, we’ve heard a lot of talk from the White House, but we haven’t seen a lot of action. The bill recently passed in Congress and signed by the president offers piecemeal solutions to a crisis whose scope calls for a comprehensive, system-disrupting plan. It provides neither an adequate level of funding, nor the full breadth of essential services that our hardest-hit communities need in order to fight addiction and save lives.
Together, we will continue pushing the federal government to lead. But we’re not going to wait for them to act. We can’t afford to – and we don’t have to.”
Read the op-ed in full here.
New Mexico is the latest example of how much progress we can make on big issues even without action in Washington. Governor Lujan Grisham and the state legislature – with strong support from the state’s members of Moms Demand and Everytown for Gun Safety – have adopted background check legislation similar to the bill that Republicans in the U.S. Senate are now blocking. Congratulations to everyone involved. This is exactly the kind of bottom-up action that I will be doing more to support over the next two years across the country.
“I’ve never made any secret of my belief that Donald Trump is a threat to our country. At the 2016 Democratic National Convention, I said: ‘New Yorkers know a con when we see one.’ Last fall I spent more than $100 million supporting Democrats in the midterm elections. Republicans in Congress had failed — and are still failing — to fulfill their constitutional duty to hold the president accountable. Instead, they indulge his worst impulses and refuse to work with Democrats on the most urgent issues.
It’s essential that we nominate a Democrat who will be in the strongest position to defeat Donald Trump and bring our country back together. We cannot allow the primary process to drag the party to an extreme that would diminish our chances in the general election and translate into ‘Four More Years.’
Many people have urged me to run. Some have told me that to win the Democratic nomination, I would need to change my views to match the polls. But I’ve been hearing that my whole political career.
I’ve run for office three times and won each time, in no small part because I’ve never stuck my finger in the wind to decide what I should believe. It’s not who I am, nor do I think it’s what voters want in a leader. They want someone who levels with them, even when they disagree, and who is capable of offering practical, sensible, and ambitious ideas — and of solving problems and delivering results.
I come out of the business world. I’ve had executive jobs in both the private sector and government. Finding solutions to tough problems is my life’s passion. My skills are in building and leading teams that draw up innovative plans and then work together to implement them. I think this is exactly what our country needs in a president, especially after what will be four years of chaos, disruption, and deceit.
I know what it takes to run a winning campaign, and every day when I read the news, I grow more frustrated by the incompetence in the Oval Office. I know we can do better as a country. And I believe I would defeat Donald Trump in a general election. But I am clear-eyed about the difficulty of winning the Democratic nomination in such a crowded field.
There is another factor that has weighed heavily on my mind: the likelihood that our biggest national problems will worsen over the next two years. With a leader in the White House who refuses to bring the parties together, it will be nearly impossible for Congress to address the major challenges we face, including climate change, gun violence, the opioid crisis, failing public schools, and college affordability. All are likely to grow more severe, and many of the president’s executive actions will only compound matters.
I love our country too much to sit back and hope for the best as national problems get worse. But I also recognize that until 2021, and possibly longer, our only real hope for progress lies outside of Washington. And unlike most who are running or thinking of it, I’m fortunate enough to be in a position to devote the resources needed to bring people together and make a big difference.
Since leaving public office, I’ve created and supported initiatives that are rallying citizens and leaders of cities, states, businesses, and nonprofit organizations to take action on their own. Like me, most Americans want to improve their communities and get things done. Together, we’ve shown that’s possible even without help from Washington.
I know there’s much more we can accomplish over the next two years, but only if we stay focused on the work and expand upon it. And the fact is: A national presidential campaign would limit my ability to do that.
So as I’ve thought about a possible presidential campaign, the choice before me has become clear. Should I devote the next two years to talking about my ideas and record, knowing that I might never win the Democratic nomination? Or should I spend the next two years doubling down on the work that I am already leading and funding, and that I know can produce real and beneficial results for the country, right now?
I’ve come to realize that I’m less interested in talking than doing. And I have concluded that, for now, the best way for me to help our country is by rolling up my sleeves and continuing to get work done.
Here’s one way I’ll do that. In 2011, following the failure of cap and trade legislation in Congress, I teamed up with the Sierra Club on a campaign called Beyond Coal. By organizing and mobilizing communities affected by the harmful pollution of coal-fired power plants, we have helped close more than half the nation’s plants — 285 out of 530 — and replaced them with cleaner and cheaper energy. That was the single biggest reason the U.S. has been able to reduce its carbon footprint by 11 percent — and cut deaths from coal power plants from 13,000 to 3,000.
Now, I will take the next big steps. First, I will expand my support for the Beyond Coal campaign so that we can retire every single coal-fired power plant over the next 11 years. That’s not a pipe dream. We can do it. And second, I will launch a new, even more ambitious phase of the campaign — Beyond Carbon: a grassroots effort to begin moving America as quickly as possible away from oil and gas and toward a 100 percent clean energy economy.
At the heart of Beyond Carbon is the conviction that, as the science has made clear, every year matters. The idea of a Green New Deal — first suggested by the columnist Tom Friedman more than a decade ago — stands no chance of passage in the Senate over the next two years. But Mother Nature does not wait on our political calendar, and neither can we.
The same applies to gun violence. Congress has not passed a major gun safety bill in nearly 25 years. Last week the Democratic House voted to approve a bill strengthening the background check system, but the Republican Senate is virtually guaranteed to block it. Nevertheless, thanks to strong grassroots efforts that we have spent years organizing and mobilizing, 20 states have passed stronger background check bills or adopted other laws that help keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people. But 20 states is not enough, and we can’t stop now given the risks to our country.
Gun violence and climate change are not the only urgent challenges where we must make progress even as Washington continues to ignore proven solutions.
We know how to improve public schools and dramatically reduce the racial achievement gap. We did it in New York City, by raising standards, increasing accountability, and giving our children the education they need to thrive in today’s knowledge- and technology-based economy.
We know how to increase access to college for low-income students. My foundation is doing just that, by working with colleges to increase financial aid and recruitment, and giving high school students more support with the application process.
We know how to reduce opioid addiction; improve the quality of health care and access to it; and reduce homelessness on our streets. We extended life expectancy by three years in New York City, and I’m working to help other cities make similar progress.
We know how to strengthen local communities, by investing in civic leaders and the innovative work they are doing to tackle our nation’s challenges from the ground up. This is a central focus of my foundation’s work, and it is where answers to many of our toughest challenges lie.
And we know that to protect our democracy, we need to organize to protect every citizen’s right to vote.
On these and other issues, Washington is unlikely to take effective action over the next two years. Progress depends entirely on the rest of us.
In the weeks and months ahead, I will dive even deeper into the work of turning around our country, through concrete actions and results. And I will continue supporting candidates who can provide the leadership we need — on climate change, gun violence, education, health, voting rights, and other critical issues — and continue holding their feet to the fire to deliver what they promise.
I hope those who have urged me to run, and to stand up for the values and principles that they hold dear, will understand that my decision was guided by one question: How can I best serve the country?
While there would be no higher honor than serving as president, my highest obligation as a citizen is to help the country the best way I can, right now.”
Originally published on Bloomberg Opinion.
“The people of Nevada have twice voted in favor of gun safety background checks – first by passing a 2016 statewide referendum, and then in 2018, by rejecting the leaders who wrongly refused to implement it. The legislature and Governor Sisolak have sided with the people over the gun lobby, and the common sense law they adopted today will save lives. Nevada is the latest proof that the will of the American people will not be ignored when it comes to gun safety. Across the country, Americans – including gun owners – have long favored stronger background checks and other safeguards. What is different now is that millions of parents, survivors, students, and community leaders are organizing and demanding action – I’ve been glad to support them – and electing candidates who will deliver. Today, Governor Sisolak and Nevada’s legislature delivered, and that’s great news for the state and the whole country. Congratulations to the Governor and all the legislators who have done the will of the people and made Nevada safer and stronger.”
Remarks as Delivered
“I want to thank all of you for coming tonight, and we’re glad to be screening the film here in Washington, DC. We are just sorry that the one person in Washington who most needs to see the film isn’t here. And unfortunately that person will probably never see it, because it won’t be running on Fox.
“But the President really could learn a lot from the towns and cities featured in this documentary, and which are taking action on climate change right now. If he’s not willing to listen to his own administration’s scientific advisers – and he isn’t – he should at least listen to the people in this film.
“Now in fairness, it is not just the President. The Republican Senate has been blocking climate legislation for more than a decade. But thankfully, we now have at least one chamber of Congress that understands the urgency of this issue.
“In midterm elections, we supported 24 Democratic House candidates who stood up on climate change. All of them ran in competitive districts that had been held by Republicans who had failed to lead on the issue.
“I’m glad to say 21 of them won, including Harley Rouda from California, who is here with us tonight.
“I want to thank all the members of Congress who have joined us for this event: Susan Wild and Brendan Boyle from Pennsylvania, Jan Sakowski and Sean Casten from Illinois, Kathy Castor from Florida, Sheila Jackson Lee from Texas, and Paul Tonko from New York, and we had the pleasure of working with when our team was in City Hall.
“And also we have Shaun Donovan. Shaun did a great job as our housing commissioner, and then President Obama stole him away from us to run HUD and serve in his Cabinet. I did eventually forgive the President, but not 100 percent. Seriously, he’s a phenomenal public servant who was great in New York City and great for the country.
“I know all of them are eager to see climate legislation through the House, and they are far from being alone.
“Democrats in both houses are focused on climate change, and it’s great to see that people are pushing the envelope. But let’s face it, the fact of the matter is with this president, and this Republican-controlled Senate, no major bill is getting passed over the next two years.
“It’s just a fact of life. I wish that weren’t the case. And I know every member of Congress here tonight wishes that wasn’t the case, as well. But the sad and unfortunate reality is number one, Congress will not be able to pass climate legislation during the next two years unless something really changes. And number two, Mother Nature doesn’t care about the political calendar.
“Eighteen out of the last 19 hottest years on record have been since the year 2000. Forest fire season in California is now two months longer than it used to be. And rain levels in extreme storms have increased by 20 percent in this country.
“So while Senate Republicans and the White House block progress, we’ll have two more years of letting the oceans rise without taking action, two more years of letting temperatures break records, and two more years of letting storms get more severe and destructive and kill people.
“We don’t have two years to waste. So as Republicans obstruct and obfuscate I – and mayors and local leaders around the country – will continue to accelerate our work.
“Now, I’m not much for hand-wringing. It’s a luxury we can’t afford right now. We need action and we need results. We cannot wait on Washington, and we can’t wait for inauguration day 2021.
“That is why we made this movie – to continue driving progress outside Washington.
“As you’ll see in the film, outside of Washington the American people don’t view climate change as a left-right, Democratic-Republican issue. Whether it’s conservatives in northwest Iowa or liberals in southern Florida, Americans are finally taking action to reduce emissions and create clean energy jobs.
“They recognize that fighting climate change is good for their health, good for their economies, and good for their communities.
“I believe that by shining a light on the kind of local leadership we are seeing all across the country we can spur even more grassroots action, and we can keep our country on track to honor the commitment that we made under the Paris Climate Agreement.
“This film is one way my foundation is working on that. We’re also supporting mayors and communities that are helping to lead the charge.
“One of those leaders is my friend Bill Peduto, the Mayor of Pittsburgh. When President Trump announced his intention to pull the U.S. out of the Paris Climate Agreement, he said he wanted to help the people of Pittsburgh, not Paris.
“Well, Mayor Peduto quickly corrected him. Pittsburgh is a leader on climate action. So, Bill stood up and said, ‘Actually, Mr. President, Pittsburgh is fully committed to the goals of the Paris Agreement.’ Because as Bill well knows, and you should as well, we all breathe the same air. And climate pollution in Paris – and everywhere else – affects the people of Pittsburgh, and all Americans.
“Hundreds of other mayors – in both red and blue states – have joined Bill in making the same pledge to uphold America’s commitment under the Paris Agreement, and Bloomberg Philanthropies has been helping them keep it.
“We recently invited mayors from America’s 100 largest cities to propose ambitious plans to reduce climate pollution. We called it the American Cities Climate Challenge – and we offered a total of $70 million in support to the 25 best suggestions that came up in that competition. Those cities are now working to implement their ideas.
“I visited one of our winners, Orlando, last week – and you’ll get to see their idea in the movie we’re about to show.
“Together, through the proposals and policies laid out in their applications, the 25 winners of our Climate Challenge are projected to reduce carbon emissions by some 40 million metric tons by the year 2025. That’s like taking more than eight million cars off the road for a year, or shuttering ten coal-fired power plants.
“And closing coal-fired power plants is the single more important step that we can take to clean our air and fight climate change.
“Over the past eight years, our foundation has worked with the Sierra Club and other partners to close coal plants and replace them with energy that is cleaner and cheaper. I’m glad to say that we’ve already retired more than half of all U.S. coal power plants – 282 coal-fired power plants closed or in the process of closing out of a total of 530.
“That has delivered cleaner air and water to communities around the country, and it has helped reduce U.S. emissions to below the levels that were envisioned by the Clean Power Plan, which Republicans have blocked from going into effect at every turn.
“I think it’s fair to say that when the Clean Power Plan was first announced back in 2013, no one believed that we could close that many plants without federal laws – but thanks in no small part to millions of Americans who joined the Sierra Club campaign, we did. And we’re not going to stop until we have replaced every single coal plant with cleaner and cheaper energy.
“Our work with the Sierra Club and mayors and governors and community and business leaders shows that with bottom-up action, major progress is possible.
“But just think about how much more progress we could be making if we had a president working with us, instead of against us.
“As the 2020 presidential campaign gets underway, I believe every candidate who wants to be President of the United States should put forward a plan for fighting climate change. And I believe every voter should ask the candidates not just what do you promise to do? But also what have you done? What have you delivered? And how can we implement in a practical way your proposals?
“There are plenty of leaders in our country who have taken action and already proven that progress is possible. I hope we send more of them to Washington in 2020.
“Until then, I know one thing: cities and towns like the ones featured in Paris to Pittsburgh will continue to step up to the challenge, leading our country, and the world, toward a brighter – and greener – future.
“So enjoy the film. The title comes from when the President said, ‘I want to take care of Pittsburgh, not Paris.’ We’ve come a long way. This country has been completing what we had promised to do – getting our dues to the U.N. to monitor, closing the plants that we said we’d close, reporting, and helping everybody else to do the same.
“We have an awful lot to be proud of. We can go a lot further if we had the President helping and the Republican Congress helping us, but make no mistake about it and you’ll see in the movie, we’re all in.
“Thank you all, and enjoy the film.”
Remarks as Delivered
Miami, Florida
“Thank you, thank you. Good evening to all of you, and buenas noches a todos.
“We’re lucky to have Manny Diaz as a board member of Bloomberg Philanthropies, and I want to thank him for that incredibly kind and generous introduction.
“It’s an honor to join you all tonight. Americans for Immigrant Justice does some incredibly vital work as we all know, and I want to say a special thanks to Cheryl Little for inviting me. You are the greatest.
“I also want to congratulate two very deserving honorees: Father Frank – Father, well done – and Indira Islas. You are the greatest, and you are the future of this country, and somehow or other we’re going to make it all right, just keep the fight up.
“Their stories are so inspiring, and they really go to the heart of what’s at stake when we talk about immigration, and the future of immigration in America. Let me tell you what I mean when I say that.
“I believe immigration is the American story. It really is. The entire basis for our country’s success is that people come here to build better, freer lives for themselves and their families. That is our story.
“We all have different roots. Manny Diaz and his mother came from Cuba. My grandparents came from Belarus and Lithuania. Maybe you or your ancestors came from Ireland or Germany, or Mexico or Colombia, or anyplace else.
“But all immigrants have come here seeking exactly the same things: freedom, and equality, and the opportunity to work to give their children the chances that they never had.
“America’s spirit of openness and opportunity has made us the wealthiest and most powerful nation in the world. It is impossible to imagine American life, or the American economy, without immigrants.
“Think about this, more than 40 percent of Fortune 500 companies were started by immigrants or their children. Forty percent.
“Now, some people claim that immigrants take jobs away from Americans. But the data really does prove them wrong.
“Just take one of the companies headquartered here, Carnival Cruise Line. It’s one of the largest employers in the region, and it was founded by two immigrants – one born in Israel, and one born in Turkey.
“Of course, it’s not just big businesses that are started by immigrants. All over America, immigrants create small businesses that help form the backbone of our communities and those businesses employ millions of Americans and provide goods and services that Americans depend on every single day.
“So, we all have different histories. Different backgrounds. Different journeys. But they all combine to form the same exceptional story: the American story.
“And there’s a reason that the American Story is so enduring. Because at the heart of it lies an idea that gives our story its greatest power and its greatest promise. We call this the American Dream and that’s why we’re all here tonight.
“We all believe in the American Dream. I’ve been lucky enough to live it. My father never earned more than $6,000 a year in his life. But a good education opened doors for me that I never thought were possible.
“Those doors of opportunity are what the American Dream is all about. I’m not talking about getting rich. I’m not talking about getting famous. It’s about getting the chance to fulfill your potential, and to accomplish something, for yourself, for your family, for your community, and for your country.
“But at this very moment, the American Story, and the American Dream that shapes it, are both under attack.
“They are under attack not merely by foreign enemies that we encounter generation after generation, the ones that cling to ideologies that are founded in repression, and intolerance, and dictatorship.
“No. Today, the American Story and the American Dream are under attack by our own
American President.
“From the day he announced his campaign, Donald Trump has never stopped trying to scapegoat immigrants. It is Mexicans and Central Americans today, but it could just as easily be Cubans or Lithuanians tomorrow. Manny’s family. My family. Your family.
“Now, there have always been politicians who seek power by preying on the fears of others, and resentment toward them.
“For much of our history, the targets were Catholics and Jews, Irish and Italian, Chinese and Japanese, and of course, African-Americans and Hispanics.
“We always emerged stronger, and I believe we will this time as well. But there is something different about this time.
“Through most of the 19th and 20th centuries, the people making xenophobic appeals were typically members of secret societies, or sometimes, members of Congress.
“But this time, the person making them is the President of the United States, and I believe it shows he just does not understand the job and what it means to lead our country.
“Now, hard as it is to believe, the most xenophobic president of our lifetime is from the immigrant capital of the United States: New York City. In fact, he’s from Queens, one of the most diverse places on the face of the Earth.
“When my administration created a 311 Government Service Hotline, we made sure that our operators covered 170 different languages. So you would think that someone from Queens would understand the power and the value of immigration. Sadly, he does not seem to.
“It’s hard not to conclude that the value of diversity in our country is lost on the President. His speeches and his tweets seem to be about playing politics rather than solving problems.
“And for him, that means offering cheap political gimmicks – like the wall – instead of real solutions, like comprehensive immigration reform.
“Now, on Tuesday, the President said he is in favor of more legal immigrants. That would be a welcome change.
“But he has spent the past two years trying to reduce the number of legal immigrants. So talk is cheap, especially when it comes from someone who has a long history of making empty promises.
“The one thing we know for sure is that the President’s decision to shut down the government over a wall we don’t need was a total failure of presidential leadership. And it was also an example of just incompetent executive management.
“Unfortunately, it’s not clear he’s learned his lesson, and so it may be up to Congress to strike a deal without him.
“Keep in mind, for all his talk about declaring a national emergency at our southern border he’s already declared a national emergency on a different American challenge that he’s done almost nothing to solve.
“More than a year ago, he signed a document declaring the opioid crisis to be a national public health emergency.
“He’s right: it is an emergency. And my foundation is working on attacking it. But instead of offering us real solutions, this administration just pretends that a wall can stop the flow of people and drugs into our country.
“Never mind that most addictive drugs arrive in America through legal ports of entry and some are even sent directly by mail. A massive wall won’t stop drugs or people from arriving here illegally and pretending otherwise is not going to get us anywhere.
“Now, we do face real challenges on our border with Mexico, some of them created by this administration’s outrageous policy of separating children from their parents.
“It would be hard to imagine a more un-American policy than that and we should never stand for it.
“Unfortunately, children at the border are not the only young people affected by the president’s xenophobia. Foreign student enrollment in the United States declined again last year, because many young people fear they won’t be welcome here.
“Those students are choosing places like Montreal over Miami and we are losing out on the talent we need for the future.
“Now, words matter. And the president’s words and policies are hurting our ability to out-compete the rest of the world for talent and we are going to pay a long-term cost for that unless we change it very soon.
“Of course, it’s not just that young people aren’t coming here. There are more than three million Dreamers who are already here and they want nothing more than to pursue the American Dream.
“Some of these Dreamers are here with us tonight. They were brought here as children. They broke no law.
“To argue that a child carried here in his or her parents’ arms broke the law defies logic, and reason, and any comprehensible interpretation of what the Founding Fathers would have thought anyone’s definition of lawbreaking was.
“Not to mention, it lacks any sense of decency and compassion.
“And yet the President is trying to block those children from staying here. He continues to fight the Obama-era program that granted work permits to those who arrived here as children. He refused to support Democratic legislation that would legalize their status. And he has refused to deal with an immigration system that is broken through and through.
“Now, I’ve never been a partisan person. I don’t believe either party has a monopoly on good ideas or good people.
“My good friend John McCain, who was a true American hero, was a leader on immigration reform. I went to Annapolis to address a class about three months ago and I went to see John McCain’s grave, and the number of people that put a stone on his tombstone is quite amazing.
“I’d like to think that this Congress and this President can reach a comprehensive deal. But that certainly doesn’t seem likely based on the present rhetoric.
“Long term, I believe we need to elect a president in 2020 who can bring the two parties together around real solutions so that we can fix this and other broken systems once and for all.
“I’m optimistic it can be done because, first and foremost, Americans want it. The public is far more united on these issues than the voices at the extremes want us to believe. That’s the good news.
“The vast majority of us agree that we should control our borders and welcome hard-working people from around the world who want to come here to work and pursue the American Dream, and provide a path to citizenship for all who are here.
“I’ll just close with one further thought. One of the reasons I ran for mayor was to help fix what was, at the time, a failing public school system. I’d visit different classrooms across the city. I’d see all those bright, eager students. Many of them were either immigrants or the children of immigrants. I’d meet them, and I just knew that one of those kids, or eventually some of their children or grandchildren, would grow up to win a Nobel Prize, to cure a deadly disease, or start a business that would employ thousands of people, or lead our city, or our country.
“I knew that because that is the American story. I doubt my grandparents could ever have imagined that their grandson would become mayor of New York City. I know my teachers never would’ve believed it. But it happened, and it only could’ve happened in America.
“All of us are made greater by immigration. All of us are ennobled by the American Story. And I want to thank A.I. Justice and all of you for upholding the American Dream.
“The struggle to live up to our nation’s highest ideals is a fundamental part of our story too, and you’re leading that struggle. So thank you for your leadership, and thank you for having me here tonight.
“Don’t ever forget it, when people vote with their feet, they come to America.
“God bless America, God bless our American story, and together let’s write a new chapter that keeps the American Dream alive for generations to come.
“Thank you.”
Remarks as Delivered
Manchester, New Hampshire
“It’s great to be back here in New Hampshire. Last night I had dinner with some local political leaders to talk about the biggest issues facing this state. And they are in many cases, in most cases, the same issues that face all the states in our great country.
“And this morning I spent some time with a group of entrepreneurs from Manchester to get their perspective. Nothing political, just I always come to New Hampshire in the winter when it snows and come here.
“Well I was here in October and in Nashville talking to a group, Moms Demand Action, which is a group – if you don’t know about it, they support common sense gun laws and they have been very impactful. An awful lot of elected officials, when a group of moms descend on you wearing red shirts and start screaming at you, every elected official pays attention. Now whether they remember it the next day is a separate issue, but they really have been helpful in electing candidates who want common sense gun laws, which is really just background checks.
“Nobody’s trying to take away anybody’s guns, but we shouldn’t be selling guns to criminals or people with psychiatric problems or minors, and that’s what they advocate for and they are very effective and it’s great to be with them. And it’s great to know that they have a very healthy chapter here in New Hampshire.
“I also had the pleasure of working with your Mayor, Joyce Craig. I have gotten to know Joyce over the last two years because she has participated in a leadership program that our foundation, Bloomberg Philanthropies created with Harvard University. And the idea behind the program is really pretty simple. The private sector spends billions of dollars on leadership development for executives every year, but mayors just don’t have access to that kind of support. So we created an organization joint with Harvard University, the Business School and the Government School, or the B and K School as they’re called, and we invited some of the most dynamic mayors across this country and from around the world to participate, and Mayor Craig, I’m happy to say, was in the first cohort.
“They talk about things that are real world problems that mayors are going to face when they get into office. What we try to do is pick young mayors who really are aggressive in terms of wanting to learn and make a difference and willing to stand up for things that may be politically difficult but are in the public’s interest, and Mayor Craig is as good an example as you could find.
“And then after they spend four days with the professors from the B School and K School, they send up their next two in line to do the same thing for four days about a month later. And then there’s blogs and newsletters and focus groups and they all work together going forward.
“And all mayors have somewhat the same problems. Everybody wants something, nobody wants to pay for it – welcome to the NFL. She’s, I think, been a very good mayor here and I hope a little bit of it was because of what we were able to add to her abilities.
“I want to say one thing that the program does not cover and that is how to keep the government open. That is so basic, it is beneath the mayors. When we started that program, it never occurred to us that the government would be closed.
“In fact, if you go around the world, I can’t think of any other country that closes down its government over a political dispute. There is no reason for it. Everybody suffers. And I think it’s so basic that we don’t talk to the mayors, it’s beneath them.
“Unfortunately, it turns out, it’s not beneath our current president. And to me the government shutdown was an utter failure of executive leadership. And I think it’s an example of just how totally incompetent management can needlessly hurt millions of people. It’s not all of a sudden everybody’s going to get their checks and we’re right back on. This has damaged the country and it’ll take a while to recover.
“I’m glad the shutdown is over for now, but the American people will continue, I think, to pay a steep cost for the White House’s total incompetence just because the president is fixated on a wall that we don’t need instead of the real challenges that we face – challenges like creating good paying jobs. Challenges like making healthcare more affordable. Challenges like stopping the opioid crisis that is tearing so many families and communities apart. A very big problem, as a matter of fact, here in New Hampshire. Your rate of opioid addiction is among the highest in the country.
“There’s the challenge of improving our public schools and making college more affordable. The future for all of our citizens is education, more and more every day. And unfortunately, we’re not preparing people for the world that they’re going to have to face.
“We also have to invest in infrastructure. The list goes on and on. But this morning I thought I’d just pick one subject to talk about and it’s one of the toughest challenges we face, but maybe one of the most important. It’s a challenge in New Hampshire. It’s a challenge in the United States, and it’s a challenge all around the world. And that is climate change.
“I’ve been working on this issue for more than a dozen years. I recently wrote a book about it with my friend Carl Pope, who did a great job leading the Sierra Club. We have copies of the book for everyone when you leave, but when you take the book please, one per family, they cost a lot of money. And if you open it up, with the exception of a handful of people at the head table, you will have one of the rarest books in the world, and that is an unautographed copy of a book by Bloomberg. I thought that was funnier than you did, actually.
“Seriously fighting climate change is one of the best ways to save lives because you reduce pollution. This is an environmental thing for the here and now, as well as climate change for the future. You save money by reducing energy bills and that’s good, and you grow the economy by creating jobs. And during my term as Mayor of New York City, we substantially cut the city’s carbon footprint while also increasing life expectancy by three years. When I left office, life expectancy in New York was three years greater than the national average. So a lot of people benefited from that. And we also, while we did that, we created 400,000 new jobs. So environmental stuff and economic stuff go hand in hand, both in the same direction. You help the environment and you will help your economy.
“The critics say that we have to choose between some of these things and that’s just not true, as with a lot of social problems that we have to address. I remember smoking, when I put in a smoking ban, nobody wanted my picture, the cameras wouldn’t show up, and I got a lot of one finger waves in parades. But in the end people adopted the smoking policies. It’s been adopted all through Western Europe, Latin America, all over this country, even in some cities in China where the government owns the tobacco companies. And what it’s done is helped the food and beverage business. Restaurants don’t get any money when you sit there and have a cigarette after dinner, they like you to get out and they can use that table again. And their employees are healthier because they don’t have to breathe that air.
“So that’s just another good example of good policy to save people’s lives and solve one issue. Helps the economy as well. It’s not theory, it’s real experience. And I think Americans understand the importance of a number of these issues, particularly climate change. Americans want elected officials to put partisanship aside and work together on real solutions to their problems because they see these problems all around them.
“And with climate change, you can see it in the wildfires in California, the hurricanes that strike our coasts, the hotter, drier weather, which is causing problems for farmers. I was in Iowa and some of the farmers were complaining that all of a sudden Canada has become so warm that they’re now growing crops in Canada that they used to grow in Iowa. And that’s competition for the Iowa farmers. So they can really see it right there.
“The warmer, shorter winters are doing wonders for ticks and other insects that carry disease. In fact, there was a recent study that showed here in New Hampshire and also in Maine, one study showed that 70 percent of baby moose are killed by ticks that now survive through the winter. And you can go out to the West, the Rocky Mountains, and see these big swathes of trees, all brown killed by the insects that the winter used to kill and no longer can do that.
“Climate change is hurting a lot of industries, and not just the ski industry, but a lot of other industries that help the local economy, and businesses of every kind are facing the potential for disruptions and higher costs and they just can’t afford what is happening.
“If a company built a plant near the water, the CEO can’t pretend that sea levels aren’t rising or that storms aren’t becoming stronger. Anybody that went before the board and said, ‘Oh, it’s just a commie plot,’ would get fired on the spot in this day and age. Businesses, you have to plan for the future. You have to protect yourself from things that are coming down the pike, and that should be no different in government as well.
“Unfortunately, we do have a president that doesn’t see it that way. He failed at business and now I think it’s fair to say he is failing at government. His own administration produced a damaging report showing that we face what they called substantial damage to the U.S. economy, environment, and human health from climate change. And you know what the president said in response? ‘I don’t believe it,’ he said. How can you possibly not believe it?
“I hate to break this to you, Mr. President, but if you don’t believe in science, don’t go to the doctor, don’t get on an airplane, don’t talk on the phone, and don’t even think about tweeting. Wouldn’t that be nice? Guess it would.
“Most Americans in both parties, seriously, do respect science and they support the Paris climate agreement. And after the president announced his intention to pull America out of that agreement, mayors, governments, and business leaders came forward to say we’re still into that agreement.
“And so we teamed up with Jerry Brown, just finished his term as governor of California, who just really did an incredible job on climate change when he was out there. And we brought all of these different groups together in one national coalition. I’m glad to say that that group includes 50 businesses, universities, and local governments from here in New Hampshire so you certainly are doing your part.
“We call the group the America’s Pledge, and everyone in the coalition has committed to cutting carbon emissions in line with the goals our country set in Paris. But given the latest scientific reports, I think it’s clear that our Paris commitment should be viewed as the bare minimum for what we’re doing.
“What we said was going to happen to this planet in 2050, then the scientists started saying, ‘Well, at the rate it’s going, it’s going to be in 2040.’ And some of the indicators would argue 2030 might be a more realistic time.
“What’s happening is really scary and it may be irreversible. I hope not. But to not stop and do everything you can. And when there’s a threat to the entire world, whether it’s going to happen or not isn’t the issue. When there’s that kind of threat, you just have to take prophylactic action, and that’s what we’re trying to do. And we’re trying to get people from starting from the bottom up and really accelerate it. And what we need is a president that can lead us forward instead of trying to drag us backwards.
“The good news is voters are demanding that candidates across this country take a stand on climate change. You saw that in last year’s elections. More candidates than ever before ran on climate change and they won.
“It’s also been great to see so many fellow Democrats embrace the idea of a Green New Deal. That idea has been around for a very long time. And we’ve been working on the issue, but the last time that it was in the public zeitgeist was back in 2009 and 2010 when Democrats controlled the Congress and the White House. And the big idea then was cap and trade and that did not get through Congress. When it happened that it didn’t get through Congress, a lot of people throw up their hands and said there was no hope. I refuse to accept that. I don’t think we can accept that. This isn’t a choice. You just have to understand there’s an issue here.
“And I believe that through bottom up action we could save lives, save money, and create jobs, just as we have been doing in New York City. And I’m glad to say thanks to millions of volunteers, that is exactly what has happened across this country.
“In 2011, I teamed up with the Sierra Club and other partners to close coal fired power plants across the country and replace them with a cleaner form of energy. And here we are nearly a decade later and we have helped closed more than half of the country’s 281 out of 530 coal fired power plants.
“We’ve cut the number of Americans dying from coal pollution by 6,000 annually. We’ve helped lower people’s electricity bill. We’ve helped create hundreds of thousands of new jobs in renewable energy. And we reduced carbon emissions even further than the levels that the cap and trade bill would have had it become law.
“So I think the lesson is where there’s a will, there’s a way. And despite this administration’s attempts to prop up the coal industry, coal plants have continued closing at about the same rate under President Trump that they had under President Obama.
“I don’t think there’s any doubt that replacing coal with clean energy is good for America, but until Washington starts investing in regions that have long depended on coal, these communities will continue to suffer.
“Back in the 19th and 20th centuries, America’s rise to greatness was powered by coal miners, and their sacrifices and hard work helped make us an industrial powerhouse of the world.
“Now, I believe today that as a country we have to repay that debt to the coal mining communities because they are getting hurt. Instead just this month, the Senate let a law lapse that required coal companies to fund healthcare for miners who developed black lung disease. What a disgrace. The president goes and talks about saving coal miners jobs and then we walk away from the health problems that the coal miners have.
“The Trump administration also tried to cut funding for job training and economic development in coal country. The hypocrisy of what the president said and then what the president’s trying to do is just staggering.
“The president likes to give rallies and speeches where he makes promises to miners about bringing their jobs back, but I think it’s clear to everybody at this point, even the coal miners – those are just empty words.
“Technology and automation displaced most of the jobs, not the environmental issues and not government. But instead of trying to help miners and mining communities deal with the changing economy, the president just makes promises that he can’t keep.
“Miners need jobs to feed their families and pay their bills. They don’t need more talk. They need more action and more investment in their communities. And I think we do have an obligation to do something about this.
“They’re going to happen in other industries as well where the economy changes. Technology changes, people’s tastes and behavior change, and people are out of work. And we just can’t say, ‘Oh, you know, that’s the way it happens.’ We as a country can do better. We are better. We have to pull together and try to help people who need the help. People who want to work but just cannot find a job. People who want to work and just don’t have the skills to get today’s jobs and do something about helping them acquire what they need to compete.
“My Foundation, I’m happy to say, has been piloting some projects across America to help mining communities acquire new skills and jobs. It is an enormous challenge, but that requires leadership from the president as well as private philanthropy. And I believe it just has to be a central part of the Green New Deal that people talk about.
“In fact, I believe the first pillar of any Green New Deal should be a plan for major and comprehensive investment to create jobs and increase economic growth in coal regions and other areas that have been tied to where their economy is tied to fossil fuels.
“As a country, we cannot continue leaving people and areas behind. It’s just morally wrong. And as a party, I think the Democrats have to show that while the president is offering false promises, we have real solutions. And not just speeches, not just rallies, but concrete things that we can do, that we can afford, and that we can rally the public behind. And those solutions will spread economic benefits to every corner of every state, not just those hurt by the change in the coal industry.
“And I think that’s the lesson of the Yellow Vest protests in Paris. You can’t ask people affected by the transition to a green economy to pay more unless you deliver economic benefits in the form of good jobs and better infrastructure that they will feel in their lives and in their communities. You have to help all workers affected by the shift from fossil fuels to clean energy. And it just can’t be an afterthought. It’s got to be a concrete plan. It has to be a central part of any environmental plan or it will fail.
“Now, a lot of elected officials have embraced the idea of a Green New Deal, and that’s great. It’s become fashionable to do so. But I think it’s time as a party that we started putting some meat on the bone and laying out exactly what a Green New Deal should include, and I believe that that plan should be bold and ambitious and most importantly achievable.
“I’m a little bit tired of listening to things are pie in the sky, that we never are going to pass., are never going to afford. I think it’s just disingenuous to promote those things. You’ve got to do something that’s practical.
“We need a transition as quickly as possible to clean energy and that has to be a part of the 2020 party platform for the Democratic Party, period.
“I’ve already begun working on putting together the details of what I believe is a Green New Deal, what it should look like. And whether I run for president or not, I will work to ensure that fighting climate change and spurring economic development in areas that have depended on fossil fuels is a top priority for the Democratic nominee.
“Now I will tell you that one of the elements of my plan will be helping local and state governments to take more action, something that my foundation has been doing.
“We recently invited mayors from around the country to propose ambitious plans of their own, to cut carbon in ways that improve people’s lives. We call this the American Cities Climate Challenge and we’ve made the challenge available to all the major cities across the country. I think something like 200 or 250 finally applied for the prizes. We offered a total of $70 million in technical support and staff expertise and other resources to help bring the best of those ideas to life.
“We picked 25 winners from all over the country, and those cities are now implementing their ideas. And one of the requirements to win was that your idea has to be transferable to other cities. So a lot of cities, even those that didn’t win, can if they think these things will make a difference in their community can do it – help their economy, help clean the air that they breathe and give us more of a future.
“Let me give you just a couple of examples. I made a note of Orlando, Florida putting floating solar panels on thousands of ponds and lakes. Their answer is the fish benefit when they have some shade, and it’s land that’s not usable for anything else. And so generating carbon free energy is a good idea.
“San Diego is on track to get 100 percent of their energy from renewable sources. The state of Iowa now generates a third of all of their electricity from wind. So when you hear people saying, ‘Oh, we’re not going to do that, that’s just a commie plot,’ then take a look at what they’re really doing.
“In New York City, Al Gore and I painted the roof of a five-story building with a flat roof, we painted it white. Why? Because a white roof reflects off the sun and so your energy bills over the year go down 25 percent and you get that savings every year just for the cost of a couple of cans of paint.
“The local newspapers had the two of us on the front pages called clowns. Next time you fly in or out of New York, look down. Every, and when I say every I mean every, roof is painted white just ten years later. It’s an enormous change, and you think about the amount of energy that was saved and the reduction in the amount of pollution that would have gone into the air to generate that electricity. It really is quite an amazing thing.
“Cities like Denver and San Antonio are working on a transition to electric vehicles. And my team is also helping cities and states fight environmental roadblocks that have resulted in toxic pollution. You should know, the president of the Environmental Protection Agency, the EPA, has been waging an assault on clean air and water protections, which is no surprise since it’s being run by a coal lobbyist. That is like appointing a tobacco industry lobbyist to be the surgeon general. You can’t make this up. It just goes on and on.
“Trump’s EPA is trying to roll back limits on mercury pollution that contaminates the air and the water and harms kids’ development. It goes straight into the fish that we eat and straight into your body. It really is damaging. And an awful lot of the coal fired power plants installed a technology to reduce or eliminate the mercury and then the rules to do so have gone away even after they made all the investment.
“Also a lot of places are trying to roll back limits on methane pollution from oil and gas drilling. Methane is one of the biggest drivers of global warming and companies that have already invested in technology here too to limit it don’t have to use that anymore. And this really amounts to an assault on public health and the environment. And that’s why I’m helping ten Democratic attorney generals who are fighting back.
“I think the most important job of leaders is to protect people’s health and protect their safety, and this administration, not to beat a dead horse, but it really is failing miserably. But complaining about it doesn’t get us very far.
“So I can just tell you my foundation is spending hundreds of millions dollars supporting environmental work around the country. I have been getting together all around the country with people like Jerry Brown and the Sierra Club and mayors and governors and business leaders, and with the United Nations members, we’ve got to really do something about this rather than just talk about it.
“Fighting climate change is an urgent challenge, maybe one of the most serious that we face. But if we tackle it head on, I really do think communities can be stronger and more prosperous. We can also save an awful lot of lives and that means some of the people right in this room will be healthier because of it.
“We’ve got to leave a better world for generations to come, and it will take a lot of work. It will require us to work together, but I really believe that we can do it if we have strong leadership at the top and if we organize and mobilize Americans across this country to push for change.
“So thanks again for inviting me. It’s a pleasure to spend some time here. I’ve asked Mayor Craig to stop the snow for late this afternoon. I’ve got an early morning breakfast back in New York, but I will probably be doing it via phone from right here. No offense intended, I grew up in Boston where I liked snow and even my mother when she was in her nineties went out and shoveled. And I thought we got more snow than we do now. I’m not sure that’s true.
“Anyways, be happy to take some questions, and thank you Steve.”