DNC Launches New Climate Council Months After Debate Feud

"The new board is helmed by a surrogate for Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders."

"The Democratic National Committee has launched an internal council to serve as its climate ombudsman and set a sweeping new policy agenda on the issue, HuffPost has learned.

The move comes months after party leaders weathered blistering criticism from activists and even some White House hopefuls for refusing to host a presidential primary debate on global warming amid a spate of natural disasters and mounting calls from scientists to prioritize radical political changes in the near future.

The so-called Council on the Environment and Climate Crisis will operate as an independent body within the DNC to advocate as ambitious a policy platform as the party will support. Michelle Deatrick, a surrogate for Democratic presidential contender Bernie Sanders in both 2016 and 2020, will serve as its national chairwoman. The eight-member board ― made up of activists, West Coast party officials and one scientist ― is set to kick off a national listening tour in New Hampshire next week as its members start assembling a list of policy goals for the Democrats’ main party organ to ratify at its presidential nominating convention in Milwaukee this July."

Alexander C. Kaufman reports for HuffPost February 6, 2020.

Source: HuffPost, 02/07/2020