Yang floats nominating Inslee as 'climate czar'

Presidential hopeful Andrew YangAndrew YangBooker says he will not make December debate stage Yang: 2020 rivals in Senate should be able to campaign amid impeachment Democrats set early state primary debates for 2020 MORE said Thursday he would consider tapping former competitor Washington Gov. Jay InsleeJay Robert InsleeFight against flavored e-cigarettes goes local Krystal Ball: What Harris's exit means for the other 2020 candidates Bullock drops White House bid, won't run for Senate MORE to serve as a climate czar in his administration.

Yang’s comments came at a MSNBC climate forum held at Georgetown University in response to a question about the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Yang said he would nominate an EPA administrator “that believes in the EPA," and attacked current EPA Administrator Andrew WheelerAndrew WheelerEPA to resume contract negotiations with employee union Overnight Energy: Critics call EPA air guidance 'an industry dream' | New Energy secretary says Trump wants to boost coal | EPA looks to speed approval of disputed industry pollution permits Latest EPA guidance weakens air protections in favor of industry, critics say MORE for saying the climate change threat is still 50 to 75 years out. 

But the entrepreneur also said tackling the climate crisis may require a “climate czar.”

"I'm sure Jay Inslee would love that role," Yang said.

Before dropping out of the presidential race, Inslee focused his campaign squarely on addressing climate change, and candidate Sen. Elizabeth WarrenElizabeth Ann WarrenSaagar Enjeti says Buttigieg's release of McKinsey client list shows he 'caved to public pressure' On The Money: Lawmakers strike spending deal | US, China reach limited trade deal ahead of tariff deadline | Lighthizer fails to quell GOP angst over new NAFTA Bill Weld: As many as six GOP senators privately support convicting Trump MORE (D-Mass.) has said she would adopt Inslee’s plans as part of her own platform for tackling climate change.