Part 1 of 2 posts on the presidential candidates’ views on the environment.
While many people have already decided how they’re going to vote in the election in November, the Eco Women think it is still important to understand each candidate’s views and, in our opinion, the environment is a hot topic this election year. Therefore, the Eco Women are going to take a non-partisan look at each candidate’s plans for the environment if he is elected.
This week: Senator Barack Obama
Photo credit: Yahoo Images
Sen. Obama has been working to improve the environment since early in his political career, and he has consistently been a leader on environmental issues. The senator’s commitment to environmental protection has a personal component; one of his daughters has asthma, which he often mentions when defending the long list of initiatives he pushed to clean up smog and air pollution in his state.
Obama’s plans in a nutshell (from his website)
- Reduce carbon emissions 80% by 2050.
- Invest in a clean energy future.
- Support next generation biofuels.
- Set America on a path to oil independence.
- Improve energy efficiency 50% by 2030.
- Restore U.S. leadership on climate change.
Obama, in his own words:
“I don’t believe that climate change is just an issue that’s convenient to bring up during a campaign. I believe it’s one of the greatest moral challenges of our generation.” (from his website)
“Environmentalism is not an upper-income issue, it’s not a white issue, it’s not a black issue, it’s not a South or a North or an East or a West issue. It’s an issue that all of us have a stake in.” — In a speech at a League of Conservation Voters rally in 2004
“We are not acting as good stewards of God’s Earth when our bottom line puts the size of our profits before the future of our planet.” — Oct. 14, 2007, in a speech at an interfaith forum on climate change
“Saying that America is addicted to oil without following a real plan for energy independence is like admitting alcoholism and then skipping out on the 12-step program.” — April 2, 2006, in a speech at the Associated Press’ annual luncheon, referring to President Bush’s 2006 State of the Union address
Next week, the Eco Women will present Sen. John McCain’s environmental record and policies.
The Eco Women are not endorsing a particular candidate or presenting their own views; rather, they thought it would be helpful to study each candidate’s stance on the environment and then engage their readers in a thoughtful and respectful discussion.
