Democrats accept the climate crisis must be confronted – but there’s a split between those who signed a pledge to no longer accept industry money those who haven’t

Among the vast field of Democrats vying for the 2020 presidential nomination there is a broad acceptance that the climate crisis must be confronted. However, there is a split between those who have signed a pledge to no longer accept money from the oil, gas and coal industry and those who haven't .

Early frontrunner, Joe Biden hasn't signed the pledge but has said he won't take fossil fuel money. In June, Biden released a climate plan that promised action "well beyond" what the Obama administration achieved.

Prior to signing the pledge, nearly all of the 2020 Democratic candidates took money from fossil fuel executives, other employees and via political action committees (Pacs), according to data on donations stretching back to 1989. Source: OpenSecrets

Beto O'Rourke has taken more than $600,000 to date. The majority of this money, however, is from individuals working in Texas' large oil and gas sector rather than Pacs. O’Rourke voted twice to lift a ban on the US exporting its oil overseas but has high marks from League of Conservation Voters, an environment group, with a 95% lifetime rating.

Michael Bennet , who has been a senator for Colorado since 2009, has taken the second largest amount from the sector among the candidates. He has also taken the most through Pacs - $184,245. He hasn't signed the fossil fuel donations pledge.

New York senator Kirsten Gillibrand , who has signed the pledge, has taken around half of her fossil fuel contributions via Pacs. Conversely, Bernie Sanders hasn't taken any dollars via Pacs but has taken money from people who work in the oil and gas sector.

As the politics over global heating has become polarized, so have industry donations. Once split fairly evenly, fossil fuel companies are now overwhelmingly funding Republicans rather than Democrats. In the 2016 election period alone, Donald Trump received nearly $1.3m from the sector.