Posted for Jeff Tollefson

Republican Presidential candidate John McCain made his first major climate address on Monday, largely reaffirming a position on climate change that has long separated him from his Republican colleagues.

The speech was widely interpreted as an effort to distance himself from President George W. Bush and “woo” independent voters. McCain endorsed cap-and-trade regulation and called for a return to 2005 emissions levels by 2012, a return to 1990 levels by 2020, and a reduction of “at least” 60 percent below 1990 levels by the year 2050.

That puts McCain roughly in the same neighbourhood as the leading climate legislation in the Senate, which would reduce emissions by roughly 19 percent by 2020 and 70 percent by mid-century, compared to 2005. That bill is expected to come up for a vote in June, but McCain didn’t say which way he’ll go. Democratic presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama have both called for an 80 percent reduction by mid-century.

Some environmentalists gave McCain due credit, but others refused to cede ground. The Sierra Club said McCain’s climate policies, “like President Bush,” offer “more of the same.”

No objective analysis could bring a reasonable person to such a conclusion, of course, given that President Bush has yet to outline a plan of any kind. But perhaps facts are malleable when the White House is at stake.

At least the Climate Progress blog ignored his speech and focused on the location: a training facility for Vestas Wind Systems.

Citing McCain’s multiple votes against renewable energy legislation, the blog suggested that “Conservatives like McCain … are the main reason McCain has to go to a Danish wind turbine manufacturer to give a climate speech.”

Image: stock photo / John McCain 2008