Climate change is 'real, urgent', says Clinton

Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton said that "climate change is real" and "urgent", adding that it is one of the most important issues in the upcoming November 8 election.

At a campaign rally at Miami Dade College on Tuesday, the former secretary of state said that her Republican rival, Donald Trump, "denies science" and says climate change is a hoax, EFE news reported.

"We cannot risk putting a climate denier in the White House," she said, adding "Climate change needs to be a voting issue".

Campaigning with her at the rally was Al Gore, who served as President Bill Clinton's Vice President from 1993-2001 and is a renowned environmentalist.

The former first lady said that the US can develop new clean energy solutions, transform its economy on the basis of those energy sources and can unite the world to cut carbon emissions.

She said that Americans can fulfil their "moral obligation" to safeguard the planet for succeeding generations.

The former secretary of state was interrupted by opponents twice during her remarks only to have those people drowned out by shouts of support from her many backers at the rally.

The Democratic candidate, who in a voter survey released Tuesday is leading Trump by 3 points in Florida - 45 per cent to 42 per cent - continued attacking Trump, saying that she was competing for the White House with someone who denies climate change.

She said that former Florida Republican Senator Marco Rubio is "irresponsible" when he says he is "not a scientist" when asked about climate change, and she also criticised Florida Governor Rick Scott, another Republican, who she said ordered his staffers not to use the term "climate change".

How can it be, she asked, that the "Sunshine State" generates less renewable energy than New Jersey? And she promised, if elected president, to push renewable energy, which is the source of employment for two million people.

Meanwhile, Gore said that "The choice in this election is extremely clear. Hillary Clinton will make solving the climate crisis a top national priority. Her opponent, based on the ideas that he has presented, would take us toward a climate catastrophe."

--IANS

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