Bernie Sanders calls for national ban on fracking

Sen. Bernie Sanders announced a need for a national ban on fracking, which is part of his sweeping climate agenda as he campaigns for the 2020 Democratic presidential nominee. While scientific studies conclude fracking poses a threat to climate, air quality and water supply, Sanders said it is a major contributor to the world’s climate crisis.

Fracking is a danger to our water supply. It’s a danger to the air we breathe. It causes earthquakes. It’s highly explosive. And it’s contributing to climate change. We need to ban it nationwide. pic.twitter.com/acF22iQLRy

— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) May 7, 2019

“We need to ban it nationwide” – environmental activists believe Sanders is setting the bar when it comes to national leadership on climate change.

As Sanders called for this ban, Washington Governor and 2020 presidential candidate Jay Inslee signed into law a statewide ban on fracking. This legislation makes Washington the fouth state to ban fracking, Common Dreams reported.

“A clear majority of Americans want political leaders to take real action on climate change,” Wenonah Hauter, executive director of Food & Water Watch Action, said. “We’re pleased that Governor Inslee has banned fracking in Washington. This is great news, but as a presidential candidate, in order to show real national leadership on climate and clean energy, Inslee must endorse a ban on fracking across the country.”

Inslee and Sanders both support a climate-driven presidential debate. With the survival of the planet on the line, Sanders said “there are very few issues more important.”

We need a climate debate. There are quite simply few issues more important than the survival of our planet and people. https://t.co/yiOyFDUosx

— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) May 7, 2019

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