Vermont Senator and democratic presidential contender Bernie Sanders announced his energy and climate plan for the United States early Monday.

The plan - called "People Before Polluters" calls for a revenue-neutral carbon tax - a path to 100 percent renewable energy and an end to fossil fuel lobbying and tax breaks.

In a nearly 5,000 word plan posted on his website - Bernie Sanders lays out exactly how he aims to keep our planet habitable and safe for our kids and grandkids - by putting the US on track to cut carbon pollution by 80% by 2050.

But it's not just for our kids - his plan will also create a "Clean-Energy Workforce" of 10 million good-paying jobs in the process - and will return billions of dollars to consumers by taxing the polluters who are causing the climate crisis.

There's no doubt that this is the strongest climate plan proposed by any candidate from either of the major parties - but hopefully it will encourage other candidates to take the wellbeing of our planet seriously.

It's strong - popular - and truly forward thinking policies like this that help explain why readers voted Bernie as their "Time Person of the Year."