Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Food for Thought...

Environmental Choices:
Obama vs. Clinton

By: Felix Dodds, Stakeholder Forum

As we enter the last stretch for the Democratic candidacy for President it is worth reflecting on their positions on energy and climate change. How would the US position change with either of them as President?

Senator Clinton has proposed a strategic energy fund which she hopes will raise from the “excess profits” of oil companies something like $50 billion over 10 years. This money would be invested into trying to achieve energy independence by funding renewable energy, biofuels and clean coal.

Both candidates support cutting US carbon dioxide levels by 80% below 1990 levels by 2050. Both support a cap and trade system to auction off 100% of emissions permits, making the polluters pay.

Senator Obama would use revenue to support the creation of green jobs and support development of renewable energy. He would also help low income families deal with increased fuel bills.

Senator Obama aims for 25% of US electricity supply to come from renewable sources by 2025 and Senator Clinton by 2030.

Senator Clinton’s campaign has been carbon neutral since April 2007. Senator Obama has yet to do that.

Senator Clinton has a target of cutting US consumption of foreign oil by two thirds by 2030.

Both have supported coal to liquid fuels if they emit 20% less carbon over their lifetime than conventional fuels.

Senator Obama has been promoting the expanded use of biofuels in the US to 36 billion gallons by 2020 and 60 billion gallons by 2030.

What about internationally? Both candidates support a new forum of the largest greenhouse gas emitters: Senator Obama a G8 + Brazil, China, India, Mexico and South Africa - Senator Clinton an E8 which would include the United States, Canada, Mexico, the European Union, China, Russia, Japan, India, South Africa, and Brazil.

Finally Senator Obama would re-engage with the UNFCCC process as “the main international forum dedicated to addressing the climate problem, and an Obama administration will work constructively within it. “

And Senator Clinton would see the US leading the development of a Post-Kyoto Treaty: The Senator would propose a science-based goal to limit global warming to levels needed to avoid the most catastrophic consequences of climate change. She would re-engage in negotiations, work to bring rapidly developing nations like China and India along, and convene high-level meetings every three months with the goal of getting a new deal in place by the end of 2009.

So, any clearer on what a Democratic President would do?

And then there is Senator McCain who with Sen. Joe Lieberman introduced the first-ever climate bill to the Senate: the Climate Stewardship Act, which would establish a carbon cap-and-trade system to reduce U.S. emissions. It was introduced and voted down in 2003 and again in 2005.

McCain has said that one of his international priorities would be working with other countries to fight climate change. He has said he'll sign no treaty unless China and India are involved.

It will all be so much clearer by CSD 2009…