Environment

"This is the petrochemical industry's responsibility, so it should foot the bill for a total cleanup—not the taxpayer."

"What is going on is not simply a warm decade or two in a wandering climate pattern. This is unprecedented," said one climate scientist.

"We demand Congress immediately investigate Exxon and fossil fuel companies' climate crimes, and make polluters pay for their destruction," said a 350.org campaigner.

Renewable technologies are also becoming more advanced, while costs are plummeting.

"The government has taken the wholly unjustified decision to deliberately contaminate the Pacific Ocean with radioactive wastes."

Sea level rise driven by climate change is making wetlands wetter in many parts of the world. It’s also making them saltier.

"Five million Texans are without power tonight and temperatures are below freezing. People will most certainly die tonight because of it. But Gov. Abbott had time to go on Sean Hannity to blame the Green New Deal."

"This is an egregious 11th-hour attempt to handcuff the incoming administration and undercut the benefits of clean air—in the worst days of a global health crisis."

While welcoming the win, activists vowed to continue fighting against destructive oil and gas extraction in the region.

"At a time when wildfires are burning down an entire coast, it's absolutely unconscionable for the media to dismiss climate change as a topic in the first presidential debate."