Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang has introduced a five-step plan to address climate change and to help mitigate its effects in the built environment.

To start, Yang lays out the problem of climate change in personal economic terms: "Why have we so far barely made a dent in what we need to do in order to combat this crisis? When 78% of our fellow Americans are living paycheck to paycheck, it's hard to mobilize people to care about the massive problem of climate change. Many think, 'I can't pay my bills. The penguins will have to wait.' It's impossible to think about the future if you can't feed your kids today. We need to get the economic boot off of the throats of our fellow Americans so everyone can get their heads up and start facing this threat head-on."

Yang's first step to his five-pronged plan is to establish a better net-zero standard for new buildings that would take effect by 2025. To do this, he addresses the need to pull away from fossil fuels while also paying attention to land use. In addition, Yang brings up the need to reverse current environmental damage by increasing research initiatives for moderating the earth's temperatures and reviving damaged ecosystems.

"Build a sustainable economy by transitioning away from fossil fuels to renewable energy, upgrading our infrastructure, and improving the way we farm and use land. Public financing options will allow individuals to make the right decisions for their families."

Yang's following and his initiatives for "making America think again" seem to be drawing attention — will his climate plan help propel him further? A true opportunist, Andrew Yang closes his announcement by stating climate change is "big and scary," but it is "also a massive opportunity."