• Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez condemned former Vice President Joe Biden on Friday after reports that Biden would take a take a “middle ground” approach to combatting global climate change.
  • Ocasio-Cortez, a progressive member of Congress who has led the charge in pushing the Green New Deal, called Biden’s position on the issue a “dealbreaker,” apparently referring to his 2020 bid.
  • “We’re not going to solve the climate crisis w/ this lack of leadership. Our kids’ lives are at stake,” the Bronx native tweeted.
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Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez condemned former Vice President Joe Biden on Friday after reports that Biden’s 2020 presidential campaign is crafting a plan that would take a “middle ground” approach to combatting global climate change.

Ocasio-Cortez, a progressive New Yorker who earlier this year introduced the Green New Deal – an ambitious plan to fight climate change – said Biden’s stance on the issue is a “dealbreaker,” likely referring to his presidential bid.

“There is no ‘middle ground’ w/ climate denial & delay. Blaming ‘blue collar’ Americans as the main opponents to bold climate policy is gas lobbyist 101,” the Bronx native tweeted. “We’re not going to solve the climate crisis w/ this lack of leadership. Our kids’ lives are at stake.”

A host of Democrats and progressive groups pushed back on Biden’s position earlier on Friday.

"If our house were on fire, we wouldn't seek a middle-ground approach to putting it out," Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, who's focusing his 2020 bid on climate change, said. "When our planet is on fire, we shouldn't seek one either. We can pursue realistic and aggressive climate policy, based on successes in states and cities across America."

Sen. Bernie Sanders also publicly criticized the proposal, and climate activists called it "a death sentence for a livable planet."

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"There is no 'middle ground' when it comes to climate policy," Sanders tweeted. "If we don't commit to fully transforming our energy system away from fossil fuels, we will doom future generations. Fighting climate change must be our priority, whether fossil fuel billionaires like it or not."

Biden is being counseled by the former Obama adviser Heather Zichal, according to Reuters, and she spoke with the news outlets about the plan, which includes rejoining the Paris climate agreement and bringing back tenants of Obama's climate policy. Reuters, citing an unnamed adviser, said that the plan "could also be supportive of nuclear energy and fossil fuel options like natural gas and carbon capture technology," which drew criticism from other Democrats.

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Reuters reported that the coming plan would be different from many of the Democratic candidates', many of whom have openly supported the Green New Deal and other comprehensive measures. But Zichal said that the plan could change in the future.

Joe Perticone contributed to this report.