Candidate Positions

Original source: http://johnedwards.com/about/issues/energy/new-energy-economy/

The Edwards Plan:

Cap and Reduce Global Warming Pollution: Edwards will set an economy-wide limit on the emission of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. He will build on the precedent of the Clean Air Act of 1990 — which limited pollution causing acid rain through a sulfur dioxide cap-and-trade system — to reduce pollution in a cost-effective and flexible manner.

Use Science to Set the Caps: Edwards will cap greenhouse gases at levels that the latest climate science has determined to be necessary to avoid the worst impacts of global warming. He will cap greenhouse pollution starting in 2010, reduce it by at least 15 percent by 2020, and reduce it by 80 percent by 2050, consistent with the most aggressive plans under consideration in Washington.

Make Polluters Pay: Edwards will auction off a portion of the pollution permits to raise $10 billion a year for a New Energy Economy Fund to jumpstart clean, renewable, and efficient energy technologies and create 1 million jobs. Other permits will be sold or given away.

Lead the World toward a New Global Climate Change Treaty: Climate change is an international problem and the U.S. can never solve it alone. China is building the equivalent of one large coal-fired power plant a week and is expected to pass the U.S. as the world’s largest polluter of carbon dioxide in 2009. [NYT, 3/17/2007; WSJ, 3/3/2007]
To lead the world toward a new, effective climate change treaty, Edwards will:

Make Our Own Commitments to Restore Our Moral Leadership: The U.S. has 4 percent of the world’s population but produces a quarter of its carbon dioxide emissions. It is one of only three developed nations that has refused to limit its greenhouse gas pollution. By adopting caps, Edwards will help the U.S. regain credibility in the world without sacrificing American competitiveness. [Irish Times, 2/14/2007; Greenwire, 10/31/2006]

Original source: http://www.grist.org/news/muck/2005/11/08/hillary-clinton/

Hillary Clinton has joined a growing claque of both Democrats and Republicans swigging from the cup of clean-energy Kool-Aid as they gear up for the 2006 congressional elections. In the past two months, the New York senator has popped up at a major Arctic Refuge rally, a high-profile global-warming conference, and a clean-technology investor symposium to make fervent calls for cleaner, greener energy policy.

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…proposed that Big Oil, now raking in sky-high profits, pay fees that could add up to $20 billion annually for a “Strategic Energy Fund” that would defray soaring home-heating costs and bankroll alternative-energy development. She called for doubling current tax credits for the purchase of hybrids and clean-diesel vehicles, and proposed that the feds stop buying “old-fashioned” cars and trucks by 2010 and start replacing fleets with cleaner, more efficient models.

Technorati Tags: hilary+clinton, global+warming

Original source: http://globalwarming-factorfiction.com/2007/05/16/remarks-of-senator-barack-obama-4306/

Sen. Obama appears to want greater efforts given to conservation and the discovery/use of alternative fuels. He also appears to think that we are in the midst of a global warming crisis caused by man.
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The idea here is simple: if you’re a business that can’t yet meet the lower cap we’ll put on harmful carbon emissions, you can either purchase credits from other companies that have achieved more than their emissions goal, or you can temporarily purchase a permit from the government, the money from which will go towards investments in clean energy technology. As Fred Krupp, the president of Environmental Defense has said, “Once you put a value on carbon reductions, you make winners out of innovators.”

Original source:http://globalwarming-factorfiction.com/2007/04/29/meet-captain-climate/

John McCain says he’ll battle global warming as fiercely as he fought money in politics. But will his fellow Republicans join the crusade?
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About a week later, at another rally, Captain Climate was again in the audience. And this time, McCain announced from the stage, “I’m concerned about climate change. I’m going to do something about it.”

Original source: http://globalwarming-factorfiction.com/2007/05/26/rudy-giuliani-on-energy-oil/

…the reality is that if you don’t have restrictions on China, if you don’t have restrictions on India, our contribution, ultimately, is going to be minor.
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We should get serious about why we haven’t licensed a new nuclear power plant in 30 years

Original source: http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2007/jan/31/brownback_its_time_tackle_global_warming/

On a day when the temperature didn’t reach double digits, Sen. Sam Brownback of Kansas called for reductions in greenhouse gases blamed for global warming.

Speaking with reporters Tuesday, the Republican presidential candidate said most scientists agree that rising levels of carbon dioxide have caused a rise in global temperatures. Brownback said levels of carbon dioxide, or CO2, have increased since the industrial revolution but have risen more quickly in recent decades.

“It seems to me just prudent that we recognize we have climate increase and temperature change,” he said. “We have CO2 loading and we need to reduce the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere.”
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Although Brownback said global temperatures had risen and climate change needed to be addressed, he declined to use the term “global warming.”

Original source: http://www.kron.com/Global/story.asp?S=6307737&nav=menu130_2_7

“Thompson believes America must become independent in its energy needs, breaking reliance on foreign and often unstable governments for oil. Thompson wants more meaningful investments in ethanol and other alternative energy sources, providing greater incentives for industry to shift to these sources. America also must aggressively take on global warming - a goal that can be accomplished in a manner that doesn’t provide false choices between environmental stewardship and economic progress. American industry and environmental interests must come together in the common interest of restoring global health.”

Original source: http://www3.whdh.com/news/articles/decision_2008/BO48879/

Global warming: Not convinced human activity has contributed to global warming or that warming is anything more than cyclical. “Certainly, we should pay attention to these changes and study them — but we should refrain from imposing a litany of state, federal and international restrictions.”

Original source: http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2004/05/07/romney_hedges_on_global_warming/

During a news conference at which he formally announced the Massachusetts Climate Protection Plan, Romney said he decided not to take sides in the debate about “is there global warming or is there not, and what’s causing it.”
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…suggesting he remains unconvinced on the issue at the heart of the proposal.

Original source: http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=ODIyYzRiMWZiZjg4NWRmNGRjYzg1YmZlNjFlYWU0OTg=

Even on issues like global warming, where many Republicans — including staunch government-cutters like Newt Gingrich — have begun to warm to ideas like a carbon tax or an emission-trading system, Paul stands firm. “Nobody has a right to pollute, but I would rather approach the issue through property rights than through regulation,” he says. “Government should be there to protect property, not to divvy it up.”