It’s hump day, June 13, and the DNC just voted to stop accepting money from fossil fuel companies

Grist

The Democratic National Committee — the organization that helps Democratic candidates run for office at local, state, and national levels — voted unanimously to ban monetary contributions from political action committees (or PACs) that are linked to oil, coal, and gas interests.

The DNC adopted the new rule over the weekend, voting on a resolution proposed by Christine Pelosi, a political strategist and the daughter of House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi. “Climate change caused by the burning of fossil fuels represents an existential threat to civilization,” Pelosi wrote in her resolution, adding that the new rule will “empower Democrats to walk our talk in harmony with our stated beliefs and convictions.”

That’s a step in the right direction for the DNC, which has accepted $91,043,263 in donations from fossil fuel-affiliated PACs since 1990.

The oil and gas industry spent a record $7.6 million on Democratic candidates in 2016. But it’s important to note that the oil, gas, and coal industries donate way more money to Republican candidates. Oil and gas spent $53.7 million on Republicans in the 2016 elections. That year, the coal industry gave nearly all of its donations, 97 percent, to Republicans running for office.

What’s more, a lot of Democratic candidates have already decided not to accept money from fossil fuel company-linked PACs. The DNC might up the ante in August, when it will vote on whether to ban contributions of more than $200 from individuals who even employed by the fossil fuel industry.

Now that the Dems have started cleaning up their act, is the GOP next? Dare to dream, folks!

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The Smog

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level up

Why aren’t there any good video games about climate change? Grist’s Jesse Nichols explores the effort to make a game about global warming that’s also fun. A successful climate game could make the world’s 2 billion gamers care about the world’s biggest problem.

Watch our video for more!