Sen. Cory Booker Cory Anthony Booker3 reasons why Biden is misreading the politics of court packing Bipartisan praise pours in after Ginsburg's death DHS opens probe into allegations at Georgia ICE facility MORE (D-N.J.) took aim at former Vice President Joe Biden Joe BidenPelosi slams Trump executive order on pre-existing conditions: It 'isn't worth the paper it's signed on' Hillicon Valley: Subpoenas for Facebook, Google and Twitter on the cards | Wray rebuffs mail-in voting conspiracies | Reps. raise mass surveillance concerns Fox News poll: Biden ahead of Trump in Nevada, Pennsylvania and Ohio MORE's pledge to rejoin the Paris climate accord should he win the presidency during Wednesday's debate in Detroit, calling it a "kindergarten" step to addressing the threat of climate change.

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Booker responded to Biden's defense of his climate policy, which was criticized by Washington Gov. Jay Inslee Jay Robert InsleeBarr asked prosecutors to explore charging Seattle mayor over protest zone: report Bottom line Oregon senator says Trump's blame on 'forest management' for wildfires is 'just a big and devastating lie' MORE (D) and others during the debate, by calling for the U.S. to take bold steps to address the crisis of rising global temperatures.

“Nobody should get applause when they say they’re going to rejoin the Paris climate accord. That is kindergarten, we need advanced thinking," Booker said.

"The only way we are going to deal with this is if America leads," he added. Climate change, Booker said, "must be the issue and the lens with which we view every issue."

His campaign tweeted the line minutes later, adding that the U.S. should use "every lever of our diplomatic and economic might to accelerate global progress."