2008 Presidential Election Breakdown: Environmental Policy

By Liza Weingarten
YAC, Virtual Volunteer

We are constantly surrounded by critical reminders to conserve energy, recycle, and reuse to prevent global warming and the destruction of the environment. Environmental issues have become an important topic in our everyday lives, as the 2008 presidential election steadily approaches, it is increasingly essential to consider the environmental policies of each candidate. Who will best lead the country to reduce its ecological footprint? Whose policies will serve our planet best while making sure that we have enough energy to support our country? Here is a comparison of the environmental opinions of a selection of the foremost candidates in the two main political parties.

Democrats: Barack Obama [official campaign site] - As president, current senator Barack Obama plans to develop a bill to help determine how best to reduce greenhouse gasses using cost-effective methods. The revenues from this program would be directed partially toward funding research to develop energy efficient technologies. As senator, Obama led an effort to raise long-time-frozen fuel economy standards through the Obama-Lugar-Biden bill. His campaign describes Obama as "an original cosponsor of legislation to establish limits on greenhouse gas emissions."

Obama supports investment in alternative energy, opposes drilling for oil domestically and supports carbon taxes or credits to cut greenhouse gas emissions.

"We know our oil dependency is jeopardizing our planet as well. That the fossil fuels we burn are setting off a chain of dangerous weather patterns that could condemn future generations to global catastrophe."

Republicans: John McCain [official campaign site] - Senator John McCain describes "ensuring clean air, safe and healthy water, sustainable land use, ample green-space and the faithful care and management of our natural treasures, including our proud National Park System" as a "patriotic responsibility." His "common sense" approaches to limit carbon emissions by controlling market forces would bring advanced technologies, such as nuclear energy, to the market faster, reduce the United States’ dependence on foreign supplies of energy, and would help the country become a leader and role model to the world in environmental issues.

McCain opposes international treaties to cut greenhouse gas emissions like the Kyoto Protocol, supports domestic oil drilling, opposes investment in alternative forms of energy and supports a system of carbon taxes or credits.

Check out http://glassbooth.org/ to learn which candidate you agree with more.

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