Bernie Sanders: Climate Change a Bigger Threat than ISIS and Al-Qaeda

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) reminded a crowd of supporters that he considers climate change a bigger national security threat than ISIS and Al-Qaeda during a speech in Des Moines, Iowa, Sunday.

The presidential candidate spoke in Des Moines over the weekend and reminded supporters that he, years ago, considered climate change a greater national security threat than terrorist groups ISIS and Al-Qaeda – signifying that he still believes that to be the case.

“Four years ago I came here to Iowa and I was asked what is the major national security issue we face? And people thought I’d say ISIS or Al Qaeda, and those are big issues,” Sanders said. “The answer that I gave, in terms of national security, is climate change”:

Sanders has made climate change a hallmark of his campaign and told The View in March that the Green New Deal – which laments the existence of cows and airplanes and guarantees economic stability for individuals “unwilling” to work – does not go far enough.

“You cannot go too far on the issue of climate change. The future of the planet is at stake, OK?” Sanders said.

“We have, according to the best scientists in the world, we have 12 years to begin substantially cutting carbon emissions before there will be irreparable damage to the planet,” he continued.

Sanders’ campaign website also describes climate change the “single greatest threat facing our planet” and repeats a similar timeline– 11 years:

The recent report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has made it clear that if we fail to substantially cut the amount of carbon in our atmosphere in under 11 years, the human, environmental, and economic costs will be severe and irreversible.

Because of that, Sanders claims, a Green New Deal must be passed:

Pass a Green New Deal to save American families money and generate millions of jobs by transforming our energy system away from fossil fuels to 100% energy efficiency and sustainable energy. A Green New Deal will protect workers and the communities in which they live to ensure a transition to family-sustaining wage, union jobs.

An American Action Forum (AAF) study conducted earlier this year estimated that the Green New Deal could cost the U.S. up to $93 trillion over the next ten years.

“America’s current national debt surpassed $22 trillion this year, which means the Green New Deal could cost more than four times the national debt,” Breitbart News added.

Sanders, who has found himself under intense scrutiny for his frequent use of private air travel, called President Trump an “idiot” for refusing to embrace the far-left’s view on climate change-related issues in a tweet over the weekend: