Greenpeace distances itself from criticism of Ocasio-Cortez

The environmental organization Greenpeace on Tuesday distanced itself from criticism of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and the Green New Deal made by the former president of Greenpeace Canada.

Greenpeace said in a statement that Patrick Moore, the former Greenpeace Canada president, “does not represent Greenpeace” and clarified that Moore isn’t a co-founder of the organization.

{mosads}”He is a paid lobbyist, not an independent source. His statements about Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and the Green New Deal, which is an inspiring vision for climate action commensurate with the scale of the problem, have nothing to do with Greenpeace’s positions and should not be reported as such,” the group said.

Ocasio-Cortez is a sponsor of the Green New Deal, a resolution that aims to address climate change through creating more eco-friendly jobs and moving the economy away from fossil fuels.

Greenpeace in its statement said the Green New Deal “has the potential to create millions of family-sustaining union jobs that protect our nation’s clean air, water and communities while confronting systemic injustices head-on.”

“Yet responses to the resolution from right wing climate deniers have ranged from misinformed to downright ludicrous. The only thing we should be debating now is how the Green New Deal will ensure a fossil fuel phase-out–which science tells us we must achieve in order to prevent runaway climate change–and how we work together to get this started,” the group added.

Earlier Tuesday, Moore on “Fox and Friends” called the Green New Deal “silly” and Ocasio-Cortez “a pompous little twit.” He also called climate change “fake news” and “fake science.”

Moore’s remarks were promoted by President Trump, who shared the quote on Twitter.

“The whole climate crisis is not only Fake News, it’s Fake Science. There is no climate crisis, there’s weather and climate all around the world, and in fact carbon dioxide is the main building block of all life,” Trump quoted Moore as saying on “Fox & Friends.”

“Wow!” the president added.