McCain and Obama Take on Environmental Concerns           
Kent Garber, US News & World Report, July 10, 2008

Whom McCain and Obama Listen to on the Environment     
Kent Garber, US News & World Report, July 10, 2008

This presidential election, the US is finally assured an administration that will no longer doubt the reality and peril of the climate change threat.  Regardless of which candidate wins in November, the US can expect a president that acknowledges global climate change as a fact and not a theory.  Both of the presidential candidates have addressed climate change as a real concern and presented proposals that go well beyond the Bush-administration’s current policies. Both candidates have either backed or sponsored legislation to cut U.S. emissions and similarly favor a cap-and-trade system for the United States (giving companies emission targets or caps and allowing them to trade any emissions reduction surplus).  The Bush administration opposes the mandatory cap-and-trade approach and instead favors voluntary actions to address climate change.  While Senator Obama supports deeper cuts in U.S. emissions than Senator McCain, as a Republican and long-time leader in the Senate on global warming, some argue that McCain may be better positioned to build the bi-partisan support needed in Congress for a mandatory climate program to pass.  However, given the backlash McCain has recently faced from conservatives after detailing his climate policy positions in his May campaign speech, McCain may be under pressure to water down his plans to enact a strong cap-and-trade program in the United States. 
Both candidates recognize that climate change is a global problem requiring global solutions, and have pledged to work with "other countries" to address this challenge.  But with either Obama or McCain in the White House, the U.S. will continue to oppose an international climate agreement that does not include binding emission reduction commitments from all major economies, including China and India.

Barack Obama (D)

In a speech delivered on October 8, 2007, Senator Obama laid out his plan for a "clean energy future," which would include: "a set of proposals that will allow America to lead the world in combating global climate change, such as 1) a hard cap on all carbon emissions at a level that scientists say is necessary to curb global warming and an 80% reduction by 2050; 2) all polluters will have to pay based on the amount of pollution they release; 3) a call on businesses, government, and the American people to make America 50% more energy efficient by 2030."   

Obama supports a market-based cap-and-trade system to reduce carbon emission.  Senator Obama is a cosponsor of the climate legislation introduced by Senators Lieberman and McCain legislation, which calls for a 60% reduction of emissions from 1990 levels by 2050 (roughly equivalent to a 70% cut from 2005 levels), and to return emissions to 1990 levels by 2020.  Senator Obama also cosponsored the more aggressive Global Warming Pollution Reduction Act (S. 309), which was introduced by Senators Sanders and Boxer in January 2007 and aims to return emissions to 1990 levels by 2020, and to cut emissions by roughly 27% from 1990 levels by 2030, by roughly 53% by 2040, and by 80% by 2050.. 

In a 2007 op-ed for Foreign Affairs, Senator Obama argued that “strengthened institutions and invigorated alliances and partnerships are especially crucial if we are to defeat the epochal, man-made threat to the planet: climate change.”  Obama promised that, if elected, he’d transform the United States into a leader on climate change solutions, claiming it is "inexcusable for a country of our wealth and ingenuity and power not to be leaders. We abdicated responsibility ... We were laggards on this issue. This [bill to improve fuel efficiency standards] gives us an opportunity to show the world that we are prepared to work with them in a constructive, positive, but aggressive way."   Senator Obama sharply criticized President Bush for failing to offer leadership on climate change at a September 2007 Major Economies Meeting—one of a series of climate meetings launched by the Bush Administration for the 17 economies responsible for most of the world's energy use and greenhouse gas emissions. 

Obama said that “for a brief moment, there was hope that maybe this conference would be different – that maybe America would finally commit to steps that nearly every scientist and expert believes we must take...Instead, the world traveled thousands of miles to Washington only to find that Washington is still miles away from the world in its willingness to address one of the most urgent challenges of our generation.”  Obama has proposed the creation of a Global Energy Forum that includes all G-8 members plus Brazil, China, India, Mexico and South Africa –the largest energy consuming nations from both the developed and developing world.    Like Senator McCain, Senator Obama believes that all major emitters, including China and India, should be held to binding and enforceable commitments to reduce emissions.  Obama has promised to more constructively engage the U.S. in international efforts to put in place a new global agreement on climate change.  During a Town Hall speech on July 31, Obama said: “Across the planet, countries like Germany and the United Kingdom have already implemented clean energy polices. Now it's America's turn to lead.” 

John McCain (R)

Senator McCain has been a strong advocate of climate action in the Senate, sponsoring with Senate Lieberman in 2003 the first proposal for a comprehensive cap-and-trade program in the United States.   For more than 5 years, Senator McCain has played an important role in drawing the attention of the public, industries and Members of Congress to climate science and the urgent need to pass legislation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.  As a Republican Senator, McCain’s leadership role in the U.S. climate debate is particularly notable in that he broke from Republican Party ranks by taking a radically different stance on global warming than President Bush, who focused on questioning the science and opposing and opposing a mandatory cap and trade program.
In an April 2007 speech, Senator McCain described global warming as a "serious and urgent economic, environmental and national security challenge." He went on to say that "climate change is a global problem that requires a global solution...America has both an obligation and a compelling national interest in fulfilling our historic leadership role." On May 12, McCain delivered a major address on climate change, accusing the Bush administration of inaction and separating himself from its environmental policies.  "I will not shirk the mantle of leadership that the United States bears," he said.  "I will not permit eight long years to pass without serious action on serious challenges." 

In testimony before the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works to hear "Senators' Perspectives on Global Warming", Senator McCain elaborated on the "Climate Stewardship and Innovation Act of 2005" that he co-sponsored with Senator Lieberman (he also co-sponsored with Lieberman a 2003 and 2007 version of this bill): "As Senator Lieberman and I have continued working for [...] legislation with the goal of producing the most innovative, meaningful, and economically feasible measure that can be embraced by the Senate, it has become clear to us that any responsible climate change measure must contain five essential components: 1) it must have rational, mandatory emission reduction targets and timetables [...]; 2) it must utilize a market-based, economy-wide cap and trade system [...]. 3) it must include mechanisms to minimize costs and work effectively with other markets [...]; 4) it must spur the development and deployment of advanced technology. Nuclear, solar, and other alternative energy must be part of the equation [...]; 5) it must facilitate international efforts to solve the problem. Global warming is an international problem requiring an international effort. The United States has an obligation to lead. If we don't lead proactively, we will find ourselves following."  In May 2008, Senator McCain gave a campaign speech during which he promised to implement a cap-and-trade program that would return U.S. emissions to 2005 levels by 2012 and to 1990 levels by 2020, with the ultimate goal of a 60% reduction below 1990 by 2050.  These emission reduction goals are consistent with the goals in the 2007 version of Senators McCain and Lieberman’s climate legislation. 

Senator McCain often stresses the idea of working with other countries to tackle global warming.  He argues that “cap and trade is being implemented in Europe and they have stumbled and they’ve had problems but it is still the right thing to do.”  He claims that he "would work with the European Union and other like-minded governments that plan to address the global warming problem to develop effective diplomacy, effect a transfer of technology, or other means to engage those countries that decline to enact a similar cap."  Senator McCain’s official website outlines his intention to engage the international community in coordinated effort by actively engaging and leading in UN negotiations and providing incentives for China and India.  The Senator insists that America must continue to negotiate with China and India on the issue of climate change, however if an agreement can not be reached then America remains obligated to act.  During a speech in March 2008, McCain stated: “We need a successor to the Kyoto Treaty, a cap-and-trade system that delivers the necessary environmental impact in an economically responsible manner. We Americans must lead by example and encourage the participation of the rest of the world, including most importantly, the developing economic powerhouses of China and India.”


* for more information about the U.S. Presidential candidates positions on climate change and the status of the U.S. climate policy debate, see the forthcoming paper, Developments in the U.S. Climate Policy Debate: How Climate Politics are Shifting on Capitol Hill and in the White House, by Cathleen Kelly, Director of GMF’s Climate and Energy Program and Tim Profeta, Director of the Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions at Duke University.

Read More

Sen. Barack Obama Addresses Energy Policy in Lansing, Mich. Washington Post, August 4, 2008

Can This Planet Be Saved? Paul Krugman, New York Times, August 1

McCain, Obama and hot air Bjorn Lomborg, The Guardian, July 3, 2008

McCain bucks Bush on climate change                    AFP, June 24, 2008

Running on Half a Tank          Jonathan H. Adler, National Review, June 18, 2008

What Will the Next President Do About Climate Change? Mark Hertsgaard, The Nation, June 6, 2008

Why the Democrats' Cap-and-Trade is Far Better than McCain's Robert Reich, American Prospect, June 3, 2008

Stumping on Climate, McCain Faults Bush New York Times, May 14, 2008

McCain Targets Independents with 'Green' Effort NPR Radio, May 13, 2008

Environmental Stances Are Balancing Act For McCain Juliet Eilperin,Washington Post, May 12, 2008

How Green is John McCain? Time, May 12, 2008

McCain's Speech on Climate Change Policy Council on Foreign Relations, May 12, 2008

Obama, Speaking in Bend, Turns Energy to Oil Alternatives The Oregonian, May 11, 2008

The Myth of Green McCain Kate Sheppard, American Prospect, May 1, 2008

Candidates Perform the Coal Dance NPR Radio, April 27, 2008

The Candidates and Climate Change Time, April 17, 2008

White House Hopefuls Woo Gore, Focus on Climate Reuters, April 9, 2008

Anticipating the Next Green President CFR Analysis, March 7, 2008

How Green Is Your Candidate? GRIST Blog - environmental news and information, March 6, 2008

Climate getting short shrift in US presidential race--Gore AFP, March 2, 2008

Republicans Warm up to Climate Change The Environmental Magazine, February 11, 2008

The Candidates on Climate Change NPR, January 30, 2008

U.S. presidential race seen focusing on climate... later Reuters Blogs, January 8, 2008

Climate Is a Risky Issue for Democrats The Washington Post, November 6, 2007

Obama goes Greener Washington Post Blog, October 8, 2008

The presidential race 2008: where the candidates stand The Climate Change Blog, June 2007

Additional Resources

New York Times Election Guide 2008