Why is Biden laughing? The point Bernie is making about climate change is not flippant

[karynnj]

36. That was a real Bernie faux pas

Every other country in the UN is now in the accord. It should be a no brainer for any Democrat - or Independent who caucuses with the Democrats to rejoin the Accord.

I think Sanders' logic is that many - including almost all of the people who negotiated it - agree it is not sufficient. As it was agreed upon, John Kerry, the American who really did the most to make it happen said that it was not enough, but it was a big step to have the world clearly moving in the same direction, which would send a signal to companies that they should work to develop new technologies or improve the ones we have. Back in 2004, Kerry explained that climate change legislation could lower carbon faster and more cheaply than any one (at that time) would have predicted. He spoke of how exactly that happened with dealing with acid rain and the hole in the ozone layer.

There is a big difference in saying that we need to do more -- and arguing that we should not bother to join the only pact that ever extended to the rest of the world. Biden is closer to Kerry - both have called for calling in all the experts and stake holder here to identify - beyond returning to Obama era cafe standards and EPA rules - what experts recommend domestically. Sanders refers to what ACTIVISTS are behind. I think the value of activists is immense because they generate the energy needed to move the country on the issue. However, it is hard to compare the expertise of people like Dr Moniz, Gina McCarthy ( in terms of what the EPA did and could do), John Kerry ( in terms of legislation and especially international diplomacy on this) to the expertise of Sunrise or AOC.

I think it is crazy to argue that Biden has the "weaker" plan just because the goals as written, but not backed by actual methods for accomplishing them are higher. You can't get to zero carbon by an earlier date just by editing a document!

NOT joining the Paris Accord is the first specific thing he has spoken of (not) doing. Just on that, I worry that he will fail to enlist the rest of the world in this fight. Biden will.