The human race will have to eventually inhabit other planets, Libertarian Party presidential nominee Gary Johnson Gary Earl JohnsonWhat the numbers say about Trump's chances at reelection Presidential race tightens in Minnesota as Trump plows resources into state The Hill's Campaign Report: Biden condemns violence, blames Trump for fomenting it l Bitter Mass. primaries reach the end l Super PAC spending set to explode MORE said Sunday.

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"I mean, the plate tectonics at one point, Africa and South America separated, and I am talking now about the Earth and the fact that we have existed for billions of years and will going forward," Johnson said on ABC's "This Week."

"We do have to inhabit other planets. I mean, the future of the human race ... is space exploration. So, no, we should be prudent with the environment. We care about the environment."

The former New Mexico governor was responding to comments of his from 2011 that climate change is a long-term issue and that the sun would eventually encompass the earth.

Johnson vowed to stay in the race even though he won't be part of the first presidential debate on Monday night, saying it's “an ongoing process” to reach the 15 percent support polling standard to be included.

— This report was updated at 10:51 a.m.