I have to admit that attending the 1st ever Presidential Forum on Global Warming and Renewable Energy was a bit exciting, even for a jaded die hard greenie like myself. Seeing presidential candidates (Dennis Kucinich, Hillary Clinton and John Edwards) debate on the environment was encouraging. In fact, it was downright exhilarating. And the level of enthusiasm emanating from a completely packed house at the Wadsworth Theatre in Los Angeles helped to amp up the evening even more. Sitting there, listening to the speakers and looking around, I kept thinking, ‘Yes, we can do it. We can, and will, fix our planet.’
Excitement and optimism aside, trying to get down to the nitty-gritty of each candidate’s specific policy on global warming and renewable energy was a little more difficult than I had hoped. Perhaps it was the timed ten minute speech accompanied by the three to five questions from the panelists. Perhaps it was simply that this issue is too big and too complex to address thoroughly in a half-hour time slot. Whatever the reason, I left wanting to know more.
For those of you not in attendance and curious to know the outcome of the speeches, here’s a brief rundown:
Dennis Kucinich
- The U.S. must abolish all nuclear weapons.
- The U.S. must participate in all global treaties such as the Landmine Treaty, Small Arms Treaty.
- The U.S. will institute the ‘Works Green Administration’ which will infuse ‘green living’ in all aspects of the administration. A few examples he cited are as follows:
- The creation of a new Department of Energy which would provide disincentives for oil, coal and nuclear energy and incentivize wind and solar technologies.
- The creation of a new Department of Health which would create not-for-profit healthcare for the masses with an emphasis on preventative healthcare for all.
- Spending money into circulation to create the infrastructure for these new initiatives.
Hillary Clinton
- Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 90% by 2050.
- Cut foreign oil by 2/3 by 2030.
- Move from a carbon-based economy to a fuel efficient economy.
- Create 5 million ‘green collar’ jobs.
- Create US Bonds (a similar strategy as what was utilized during World War II through War Bonds) for green initiatives nationwide.
- When asked how she would address increasing climate change-related disasters in poverty stricken areas, Senator Clinton stated that her foreign policy would likely include the following:
- 1. Create a process where the U.S. can take a leadership role globally.
- 2. Convene international meetings on a three month basis with the global contributors to climate change.
- 3. Create a forum (composed of scientists, American government officials and more) to address the issues related to climate change and renewable energy.
- 4. Encourage countries like India and China to jumpstart their development by moving to renewable energy technologies.
John Edwards
- Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20% by 2020 and 80% by 2050.
- Create the New Energy economy and 1 million new ‘green collar’ jobs.
- Create a New Energy Economy Fund ($13 billion fund for new energy technologies).
- Invest in renewable energy (25% of energy will be alternative, renewable energy by 2025).
- Give automakers $1 billion a year to create new alternatively fueled vehicles. Reduce oil consumption by 7.5 million barrels of oil daily by 2025.
- Open the electricity grid to innovation through inventions like ‘Smart Grids’, allowing local communities and homes to develop better, more energy-efficient power.
- Achieve zero growth in electricity demand with efficiency for the next decade.
- Cut carbon subsidies to raise money for alternative technologies.
- Provide seed innovation for green small businesses and homeowners who want to make changes to their homes to improve energy efficiency, etc.
- Call on states to separate energy profits from energy sales.
- When asked about his foreign policy on climate change and countries affected by climate change, John Edwards stated “The world has to see us (the United States) as a force for good again.” And then, “To be worthy of leadership, the world must see us as meeting not only our selfish needs, but also the needs of humanity.”
- He also stated that our foreign policy must include not only policy regarding climate change, but other large scale global issues so that these issues might be approached in a more cohesive manner.
Maybe not as many specifics on environmental policies as I’d like from each candidate, but it’s a start. And I’m happy to report that at least someone is talking about it on the campaign trail.
Chase - Die Hard Greenie and Staffer
http://www.wecanlivegreen.com
