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About The Southwest Portland Post. (Portland, Oregon) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 1, 2008)
FeATUReS 6 • The Southwest Portland Post EARTH TALK From the Editors of E/The Environmental Magazine Dear EarthTalk: Where do the lead- ing presidential candidates stand on the issue of climate change and other environmental issues? -- Max S., Seattle, WA The outcome of the 2008 presidential election could very well have a big im- pact on a wide range of environmental issues, especially climate change. All of the Democratic candidates— Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, John Edwards, Bill Richardson and Dennis Kucinich—support reducing carbon dioxide emissions nationally upwards of 80 percent by 2050 in order to stave off global warming. Likewise, each would like to see fuel effi ciency standards for cars and light trucks raised to at least 40 miles per gallon within the next few decades. Meanwhile, only one of the major Re- publican contenders, John McCain, has even articulated a position on the issue of global warming, with most favoring expanding our base of greenhouse gas- spewing coal-fi red power plants. As for specifi c track records, Clinton has an impressive record of introduc- ing pro-environment legislation into Congress, and for her time in the Senate scores a 90 (out of 100) on green vot- ing from the nonprofi t, non-partisan League of Conservation Voters (LCV). Obama is newer to the politics of the environment, but scored a 96 for his two years in the Senate from LCV, and has garnered kudos from environmental leaders for the aggressive climate and energy plan he unveiled in October 2007. Ohio Congressman Dennis Ku- cinich wants to launch a Works Green Administration similar to the Works Progress Administration of the Great Depression, only this time to benefi t the environment through the development of alternative energy technologies and infrastructures. Bill Richardson, who served as Sec- Deeper Sedation Dentistry... Dr. Little at West Hills Family Dental Center now offers DEEP SEDATION DENTISTRY. It’s MORE EFFECTIVE than just a pill. Call and fi nd out why West Hills Family Dental Center is different. 503-291-0000 • www.fearfreedental.com retary of Energy under Bill Clinton and more recently as governor of New Mexico, wants to be the “energy presi- dent,” and has an 82 lifetime rating from LCV to back it up. He has proposed the most ambitious carbon reduction plan of any of the candidates (90 percent by 2050). John Edwards was the fi rst candidate to make his campaign carbon neutral in March 2007, and greens consider him perhaps the most progressive of all the Democrats on the climate issue. On the Republican side, the envi- ronmental bright spots are few and far between. McCain is really the only choice with any declared concern for the environment. In 2003 he co-sponsored the fi rst Senate bill aimed at mandatory economy-wide reductions. While the bill didn’t garner enough votes to pass, it set the stage for future iterations that could put the U.S. on par with European nations as leaders in the fi ght to cut carbon emissions. McCain is also the only Republican candidate specifi cally opposed to drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. February 2008 Mike Huckabee scores some points with greens for his willingness to consider a specifi c increase in automo- tive fuel effi ciency standards and for his (limited) embrace of alternative energy. Mitt Romney is willing to consider a cap on emissions, but only if enacted on a global basis (including China and India, that is). The remaining Republi- cans (Rudy Giuliani, Fred Thompson and Ron Paul) have best been non- committal on climate change and en- vironmental issues in general. CONTACT: For more detailed infor- mation on specifi c candidates’ positions and track records on environmental issues, check out the League of Con- servation Voters’ Voter Guide, www. lcv.org/voterguide. GOT AN ENVIRONMENTAL QUES- TION? Send it to: EarthTalk, c/o E/The Environmental Magazine, P.O. Box 5098, Westport, CT 06881; submit it at: www. emagazine.com/earthtalk/thisweek/, or e-mail: earthtalk@emagazine.com. Read past columns at: www.emagazine. com/earthtalk/archives.php. All of the 2008 Democratic presidential candidates support reducing CO2 emis- sions upwards of 80 percent by 2050. Republican contenders have barely ar- ticulated positions on the issue of global warming, with most favoring expanding our base of coal-fi red power plants. Pic- tured here: (top left to right) Democratic candidates Barack Obama, John Edwards and Hillary Clinton; (bottom left to right) Republican contenders Mike Huckabee and Mitt Romney. (Photo courtesy of Flickr) Get a Jump on Spring. Advertise in the March Post! Call Don 503-244-6933