'Super Tuesday' and science
The primary election results from “Super Tuesday” are still trickling in, but one thing is clear: all of the leading presidential candidates in the United States endorse mandatory limits on greenhouse gases. Given the past seven years of obfuscation and, many claim, outright obstruction from the administration of President George W. Bush, this will come as a relief to scientists and many policymakers in the US and abroad.
The news comes from the right side of the political spectrum. While leading Democrats have formulated official and strong positions on global warming, the Republican field until now has been a bit of a mixed bag – in part because little attention has been focused on the issue. But with voters in 21 states weighing in, the GOP candidate with the strongest and clearest position on global warming, John McCain (pictured), came out with a commanding lead. (NY Times).
The Arizona senator bucked Republican leaders on the issue long ago, and is currently sponsoring legislation that would create a cap-and-trade program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to roughly 60% below 1990 levels by 2050.
On the Democratic side, the battle between New York senator Hillary Clinton and Illinois senator Barack Obama will continue in the coming weeks – and perhaps months. Both, however, have endorsed cap-and-trade programs to cut emissions 80% below 1990 levels by mid-century.
Cross-posted from Jeff Tollefson on The Great Beyond
Image: John McCain 2008 / www.JohnMcCain.com
Comments
Such large emissions cuts are much easier to say than to do. See my analysis here.
Posted by: Chip Knappenberger | February 7, 2008 03:45 PM
Al Gore has always promoted emissions cuts, but when he was US Vice President he did not even try to bring Kyoto before the US Senate for ratification.
Big promises, but no delivery. Just like most journalists, politicians have no depth or substance.
Posted by: Al Fin | February 12, 2008 03:20 PM