Gov. Brown To GOP: 'It's Time To Act' On Climate Change
SACRAMENTO (CBS13) – As Republican Party candidates gear up for their first big debate, Gov. Jerry Brown released and open letter Wednesday to make sure one issue isn't forgotten: climate change.
Addressing the letter to Donald Trump, the current GOP frontrunner according to almost all major polls, Brown goes into detail about California's historic drought conditions and how it has affected the state financially – and how, if climate change continues to be ignored, it could be sign of things to come.
READ: Gov. Brown's Letter To GOP Candidates
"Longer fire seasons, extreme weather, and severe droughts aren't on the horizon, they're all here – and here to stay. This is the new normal. The climate is changing," Brown writes.
Brown poses a question to Trump, asking "What are you going to do about it? What is your plan to deal with the threat of climate change?"
Back in July, Brown met with Pope Francis at the Vatican to discuss climate change. The Pope has been particularly vocal on the issue – even writing a 184-page encyclical where he discusses society, politics and how to try and tackle climate change.
"This sister [Earth] now cries out to us because of the harm we have inflicted on her by our irresponsible use and abuse of the goods with which God has endowed her."
--Pope Francis in "Laudato si"
Trump, for his part, has been a vehement denier of man-caused climate change.
"Any and all weather events are used by the GLOBAL WARMING HOAXSTERS to justify higher taxes to save our planet! They don't believe it $$$$!" Trump tweeted back on January 26.
Brown laments in his letter that climate change, at least at a national level, remains a partisan issue. He cites policies that former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and former governor of New York George Pataki (both Republicans) implemented to try and fight climate change.
"Let's also remember that it was President Richard Nixon who created the Environmental Protection Agency and signed the modern Clean Air Act into law," Brown writes.
As of Wednesday morning, Trump has not responded to Brown's letter.
