Charly Haley

chaley@dmreg.com

U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders prevailed as the favorite presidential candidate during a “Climate Emergency Caucus” event in Des Moines on Friday.

More than 100 people simulated a caucus after hearing climate change advocates from across the country speak at the event sponsored by national advocacy group The Climate Mobilization, which promotes a “World War II-scale mobilization” for zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2025.

The group had a lineup of speakers before the mock caucus, including former U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin of Iowa, advocate Jane Kleeb, founder of Bold Nebraska, and Climate Mobilization co-founders Ezra Silk, of Portland, Maine, and Margaret Klein Salamon of New York City.

Local talk show host and former Iowa lawmaker Ed Fallon hosted the event at Des Moines Public Schools Central Campus.

“The many signs are flashing in neon bright red: ‘Stop what you’re doing with fossil fuels’,” Harkin said, encouraging the global expansion of renewable energy sources. “We really need to start attacking this not just in this country, but globally.”

Harkin and others encouraged a nationwide electrical energy grid, and they repeatedly said climate change is “an emergency” that world leaders must act on quickly. Climate Mobilization representatives pushed the group’s goal of zero emissions by 2025.

Each Democratic candidate had a representative speak on their behalf before the mock caucus. Event sponsors also invited Republican candidates, Fallon said, but none of them sent a representative. An event organizer read brief summaries of the Republican candidates’ public stances on climate change.

Harkin spoke for Democrat Hillary Clinton. He said based on working with her in the U.S. Senate, he knows her as someone who is hardworking and honest.

“It was a wonder to see her go around the world (as Secretary of State) and lift us back up” from the “low point” George W. Bush left the country in after his presidency, Harkin said. “She worked, and worked hard and got things done,” he added.

Bridget O’Malley spoke for her brother, Democrat Martin O’Malley, touting his record of leading a clean-up of the Chesapeake Bay and bringing renewable energy sources to Maryland while he was governor.

John Davis, a climate activist and analyst, spoke for Sanders. He noted Sanders as the first Democratic candidate to oppose the proposed Bakken oil pipeline, which would stretch through multiple states including Iowa.

“Bernie Sanders is a staunch climate advocate,” Davis said. “... He is for us and we should be for him.”

Sanders won 69 percent of votes at the event’s mock caucus — which simulated a Democratic caucus, but counted votes like a Republican caucus. Clinton took 11 percent of the votes, O’Malley took 10 percent and 10 percent of event attendees were uncommitted, organizers said.

Fallon and the Climate Mobilization leaders asked all audience members, regardless of which candidate they are supporting, to bring the message of climate change to their caucus site Monday.