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US Presidential 2008 - "At a Glance" - Policy Comparison

Party key and links to websites
Democrats: Obama - Biden
Republicans: McCain - Palin
Green Party: McKinney- Clemente
Nader - Gonzalez
Socialist Party USA: Moore - Alexander
Liberatarian Party: Barr - Root

  Obama McCain Green Nader SPUSA Lib
Acceptance
Accepts the science that the current Climate Change is largely human caused (1)
Policy
Separate Climate Policy
International
Supports the UN lead Kyoto Process
Recognition of International Equity Issues around climate change
Support for developing and poorer nations to tackle climate change
Goals* Obama McCain Green Nader SPUSA Lib
Carbon DiOxide Stabilisation Goals
300 ppm CO2 or below
Interim Target of 350 ppm CO2
Zero Emission Goals
Zero Emissions Minus
Near Zero
Zero Net
2020 Goals
Zero or Negative emissions by 2050
80% reduction of Greenhouse gas emissions below 1990 levels by 2020
60% reduction of Greenhouse gas emissions below 1990 levels by 2020
40% reduction of Greenhouse gas emissions below 1990 levels by 2020
20% reduction of Greenhouse gas emissions below 1990 levels by 2020
A reduction of Greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020
2050 Goals
-25% or more reduction of Greenhouse gas emissions below 1990 levels by 2050
Negative emissions by 2050
Zero emissions by 2050
80% reduction of Greenhouse gas emissions below 1990 levels by 2050
60% reduction of Greenhouse gas emissions below 1990 levels by 2050
Emission Reduction Mechanisms Obama McCain Green Nader SPUSA Lib
Government designed mandatory reductions
Carbon Tax
Carbon Trading
Energy Obama McCain Green Nader SPUSA Lib
Support crash conversion to renewable based electricity system
Support major role out of renewables
Support minor role out of renewables
Support "Gross Feed in Tariff" for small small scale renewables
Support "Net Feed in Tariff" for small small scale renewables
Phase Out Domestic Coal Industry
Oppose "Clean Coal Carbon Capture and Storage"
Remove Fossil Fuel Subsidies
Oppose Nuclear Power Plants
Energy efficiency / reduction
Plan to limit energy growth
Plan to promote energy efficiency
Supports Roleout of Smart "Smart Meters"
Transport Obama McCain Green Nader SPUSA Lib
Near Zero Emission Transport Policy
Major improvements in public transport
Minor improvements in public transport
Support High Speed Rail Link between major cities
Significant improvements in cycling and walking infrastructure
Significant decrease in road spending
Upgrading and expand rail freight
Support of EV and Plug in Hybrid Vehicles
Supports low emissions car industry
Identifies need to act on issues of oil peak
Opposes coal to oil and other GHG intensive fuels
Opposes conversion of food to fuel
Land Clearing and Forestry Obama McCain Green Nader SPUSA Lib
End to land clearing
End to logging of native / old forests
Including land clearing and forestry emissions in carbon tax/trading systems
Agriculture
Policy to reduce emissions from agriculture
Acknowledgement of the key role livestock and consequently meat and dairy consumption have on emissions
Including agricultural emissions in carbon tax/trading systems
Social Justice / Equity Obama McCain Green Nader SPUSA Lib
Social justice elements in plans to address climate change
Social equity elements such as global carbon rationing
Accepting regional climate refugees
Population
Plans to reduce or stabilise population growth

1.Bob Barr in a video recording on his presidential campaign website energy policy page claims that polar bears are not endangered. This highlights a complete rejection of the majority scientific consensus around climate change and suggests he is a climate change sceptic.

Key
= Especially good policy or goes beyond stated goal.
= Supports
= Does not support or no evidence of support.
= Policy position has negative outcomes that deserve highlighting.
= Policy has very negative outcomes or moves us backwards.
= Yet to be assessed.
* = if goals listed in policy are given in a range, for example 60-80% reduction on 1990 the lower figure is used as the reference point.

admin – Mon, 2008 – 10 – 27 06:15
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