Rising sea levels along the California coast. Severe droughts in Nevada. Record heat in Arizona. Climate change is having an undeniable impact in the West. These new realities will alter the way we live in almost every way.

As the country gears up for the 2020 presidential election, all major Democratic candidates have released ambitious plans to tackle the issue of climate change. 

On Friday, September 20, as part of the “Covering Climate Now” initiative, we look at the proposals from the Democratic candidates, actions from the White House, and at the impact of climate change on Western states. What role do you think climate change should play in the 2020 election? What actions — if any — do you support? 

From 10 - 11 a.m., KPCC’s Larry Mantle hosts an hour-long, regional call-in show with NPR affiliates from California, Nevada, Phoenix and Colorado. Join the conversation by calling us at 866.893.5722 or tweet @AirTalk with the hashtag #CoveringClimateNow

Guests:

Ezra Romero, environment reporter at Capital Public Radio; host of the “Tahoeland” podcast, about Lake Tahoe and climate change; he tweets @ezraromero

Jacob Margolis, science reporter at NPR affiliate KPCC in Los Angeles, and host of “The Big One” podcast from KPCC; he tweets @JacobMargolis

Bret Jaspers, senior correspondent for the NPR affiliate KJZZ in Phoenix, Arizona; he tweets @bretjaspers

Dylan Simard, sustainability reporter for Cronkite News, a news division of Arizona PBS; he tweets @dylanasimard

Grace Hood, Energy & Environment Reporter at Colorado Public Radio in Denver; she tweets @gracehood

Heidi Kyser, staff writer and reporter at Nevada Public Radio in Las Vegas, she tweets @HeidiKyser

Erik Anderson, environment reporter at KPBS, the NPR affiliate in San Diego; he tweets @KPBSErik