Billionaire hedge fund executive and environmental activist Tom Steyer is officially making a run for the White House — and putting an aggressive climate action plan at the center of his campaign.

In this episode of Political Climate, we speak with the newest contender in the 2020 Democratic primary about why he entered the crowded race, and how he plans to use "emergency powers" to combat climate change.

After the first Democratic debate it looked as though the field of presidential candidates could be thinning out. That is, until Steyer entered the race, pledging to spend $100 million on his bid.

He boosted his campaign on July 25 with the launch of a bold climate action plan — the only climate action plan to effectively address the climate crisis with the urgency that it demands, according to Steyer.

Political Climate sat down with the candidate for an in-depth interview the day after he announced his new climate policy.

Recommended reading:

• Politico: How Tom Steyer would address climate change
• PBS: What does Tom Steyer believe? Where the candidate stands on 6 issues
• Framework for a Justice-Centered Climate Plan

Political Climate is produced in partnership with the USC Schwarzenegger Institute.

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