Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 Anne van Oorschot - Environment Chair
With the US Presidential election just over a month away, Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 hopefully all of FAWCO's clubs are encouraging their American members to take part in the electoral process by voting. In the present situation, it is especially important for voters everywhere to make themselves familiar with the candidatesʼ views on the real issues. The stand that each candidate takes on key issues, however, appears to be relegated to a less important role given the media's tendency to focus on sometimes trivial details so I would like to highlight their views on the environment since it is an issue near and dear to my heart. I have made a short objective summary of the candidatesʼ environmental viewpoints. We must all make a better effort with the environment! All information was taken from the candidates websites so refer to them for more details: http://www.barackobama.com/issues/; http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/Issues/.
John McCain (Republican):
· Believes that climate change is real. Sees it as not just a greenhouse gas issue, but also a national security issue.
· Climate policy should be based upon national and regional scientific assessments of the impacts of climate change, mandatory emission reduction targets and timetables.
· Greenhouse gas emission reduction targets and timetables: 2050- 60% below 1990 levels (which is 66% below 2005 levels)
· Goal is to establish a market-based system to curb greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, mobilize innovative technologies, and strengthen the economy.
· Key component to McCain's plan is a cap-and-trade system that would set limits on greenhouse gas emissions while encouraging the development of low-cost compliance options. A climate cap-and-trade mechanism would limit emissions and allow companies to buy and sell rights to emit. The key feature of this mechanism is that it allows the market to decide and encourage the lowest-cost compliance options.
· Emissions permits will eventually be auctioned to support the development of advanced technologies. A portion of the auction proceeds will be used to reduce impacts on low-income American families.
· Believes an effective and sustainable climate policy must also support rapid economic growth.
· Permitting "banking" and "borrowing" of permits so that emission reductions may be accelerated or deferred to more economically efficient periods.
· Reform of federal government research funding and infrastructure to support the cap-and-trade emissions reduction goals and emphasize the commercialization of low-carbon technologies.
· There must be a global solution to global climate change and the international community must be involved in a coordinated effort by: actively engaging to lead UN negotiations, permitting America to lead in innovation and capture the market on low-carbon energy production and to export it to developing countries.
· Provide incentives for rapid participation by India and China while negotiating an agreement with each.
· Climate Change plan should focus on implementation at the local level which is where impacts will manifest themselves.
Barak Obama (Democrat)
There are 4 main pillars of Obama's Energy and Environment policy:
1. Eliminate Our Current Imports from the Middle East and Venezuela within 10 Years.
2. Reduce our Greenhouse Gas Emissions 80 Percent by 2050.
3. Create Millions of New Green Jobs.
4. Provide Short-term Relief to American Families.
· Increase fuel economy standards 4% per year while providing $4 billion for domestic automakers to retool their manufacturing facilities in America to produce these vehicles.
· Put 1 million Plug-In Hybrid cars -- cars that can get up to 150 miles per gallon -- on the road by 2015, and work to make sure they are built in America.
· Create a new $7,000 tax credit for purchasing advanced vehicles.
· Require oil companies to develop the 68 million acres of land (over 40 million of which are offshore) which they have already leased and are not drilling on, or lose the lease.
· Promote the responsible domestic production of oil and natural gas by establishing a process for early identification of any infrastructure obstacles/shortages or possible federal permitting process delays to drilling in Alaska. Prioritize the construction of the Alaska natural gas pipeline.
· Implement an economy-wide cap-and-trade program which will require all pollution credits to be auctioned, with proceeds going to investments in a clean energy future, habitat protections, rebates and other transition relief for families.
· Re-engage with the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) -- the main international forum dedicated to addressing the climate problem, and create a Global Energy Forum of the world's largest emitters to focus exclusively on global energy and environmental issues.
· Help create five million new jobs by strategically investing $150 billion over the next ten years to catalyze private efforts to build a clean energy future.
· Ensure 10% of Our Electricity Comes from Renewable Sources by 2012, and 25% by 2025.
· Deploy the cheapest, cleanest, fastest energy source - energy efficiency! Set an aggressive energy efficiency goal -- to reduce electricity demand 15% from projected levels by 2020.
· Make a national commitment to weatherize at least one million low-income homes each year for the next decade, which can reduce energy usage across the economy and help moderate energy prices for all.
· Close energy industry market loopholes and increase transparency to prevent traders from unfairly lining their pockets, while driving up oil prices.
· With oil prices doubling in the past year, Obama believes we have an economic emergency that requires a limited, responsible swap of light oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) for heavy crude oil to help bring down prices at the pump.
· Enact a windfall profits tax on excessive oil company profits to give American families an immediate $1,000 emergency energy rebate.
