"Ten Democratic presidential contenders will make the case for their respective climate agendas Wednesday when they compete for the title of top environmental candidate.

The seven-hour forum on CNN, with each participant speaking separately, will offer White House hopefuls the chance to emerge as the leading supporter of environmental defense and climate action in the wake of Washington Gov. Jay Inslee’s withdrawal from the 2020 race. The Democratic governor’s platform was almost exclusively centered on combating climate change.

“There is definitely now an opening with Inslee not in the race anymore for someone to really step up and kind of be the loudest voice on climate,” said Craig Auster of the League of Conservation Voters.

“What we want to see is plans that match what the science is telling us needs to happen, in terms of the pace and scale,” he added."

Rebecca Beitsch and Miranda Green report for The Hill September 2, 2019. [2]