Ask the Candidates: Energy, Climate Change and the Environment
Here are the questions submitted by users about energy, climate change or the environment.
2:15 PM ET | 11-20-2007 | permalink
Comments
How do you prioritize the expanding world population in the overall picture of environmental concerns?
thank you,
fred call
Would any predidential candidate support safer mathematical simulation
for deeper use of nuclear energy and radiation.
How will you begin the needed move away from oil dependence by the USA, 30 years after the first oil "crisis"?
Of what I've heard from the Democratic candidates so far, all will support the research and development of alternative energy systems, be it through biofuel, solar power, wind energy, etc., but I've yet to hear a person truly committed to the use of more environmentally friendly fuel sources more than just supporting them. To fix this problem, as a nation, and in turn, a developing world, we need a leader that will work hard and make the needed sacrifices that will allow us to find a more sustainable future. How will you address the issues of alternative fuel and what will you do to lead our nation to greener energy?
One of the ways to improve the environmental crisis is through an increased focus on living locally and specifically on eating locally. The average dinner travels 1500 miles before making it to our table and uses 10 calories of fossil fuels for every 1 calorie of food we eat.Taxpayers are bearing the cost of water pollution, antibiotic resistance, food borne illneses, crop subsidies, subsidized oil and water bcause of an archaic Food Bill. What Changes to this bill would you make in order for our industrial food chain to operate more responsibly, so the American people can have honestly priced food that is safer and contributes less to our global environmental crisis?
The average person in the US drives a car or truck with a large engine that is far more powerful than is necessary to take them where they need to go safely, with few reprucusions. They don't pay an extra tax, gas is still relatively cheap and not only do these cars/trucks pollute, the gas money is sent overseas or to our neighbors. What will you do to lead the people and companies in the US to change their ways?
I understand the oil industry's need to seek out new sources of oil and they state that much of their revenue goes for such searching, but they continue to raise the prices, which is now seriously affecting the cost of everything. Meanwhile the oil companies report quarterly earnings in the billions. I say enough is enough. What would you propose to harness their ambition (greed) to make their products more affordable for everyone; especially the middle- and lower-classes?
There is a lot of talk about inventing in alternative energy, which is a great thing, but no matter where we get our energy now or 50 years from now, the action that needs to be taken is conservation. As the leader of this country what actions will you take to promote and encourage the lifestyle changes needed to begin conserving our energy and water use?
We cannot maintain America's environmental quality while Washington continues a mandatory and rapid population growth policy via immigration. Atlanta is 3 months away from running out of water, yet no one mentions that Georgia has doubled its number of residents since 1960. Genuine environmental stewardship requires policies encouraging reduced population growth, both domestic and foreign.
What do you think of so-called "geo-engineering" solutions to global warming, such as releasing particles into the atmosphere which selectively reflect UV or X-radiation or releasing fertilizer into the ocean to cause and algal bloom?
For Senator Biden: You voted no for the "Energy Policy Act of 2003," which would have increased automobile fuel efficiency standards to 40 mpg by 2015. Do you stand by this vote or do you now think it was a mistake?
Do you believe the Federal Government could have done anything to prevent the levee failure in New Orleans?
Will you have the courage to take overpopulation into account when considering challenges to environmental health?
The burning of coal for power now constitutes about half of the electricity production in the United States. Because burning coal has been linked to rising instances of cancer and autism among the population, as well as contributing to the problem of global warming, it is America's responsibility to eventually completely abandon the burning of coal for power in the United States. As president, what will you do to bring America closer to this ideal?
Human overpopulation is stressing the Earth's natural resources with water, oil, and habitat for other species already endangered.
Do you have a plan to promote and establish a Domestic Population level policy as well as an accompanying one for the U.N. to address worldwide reduction of population?
Similar to his "signing statements" strategy, President Bush and his staff have altered rules and regulations governing federal land and resource management agencies in order to ease access for industry and corporate interests. Are you aware of any of these changes and what, if anything, do you intend to do to reinstate protections of American public resource interests from water and forests to energy?
When it comes to climate change, I believe it is very important to have a strong plan, but plans tend to fall by the wayside in the absence of a clear, guiding vision. What is your vision of our nation???s response to climate change and what???s your plan to get us there?
What specific actions would you take as President to reduce our country's oil consumption?
What will you do as president to eliminate chemicals which the EU have definitively determined to be toxic and are banned there but are allowed to be used in the United States.
Environmental Change from the top down has proven difficult and requires much in the way of creating coversation between the Federal Government and State Governments. Do you think greater power should be given to local governments to attack environmental issues? If so how do you see this taking place?
In light of the scientific consensus regarding the catastrophic consequences of unrestrained global warming, what real solutions (not hydrogen cars) do you endorse?
Lately energy industry executives and even some environmentalists say that nuclear power "has to be" part of the solution to combatting global warming. On the other hand, anti-nuclear activists argue that nuclear power poses tremendous dangers, costs a huge amount, and actually has little net benefit in decreasing greenhouse gases.
What would your administration's policy be on nuclear power? Would you devote resources to developing new technologies and financing new nuclear power plants? If you don't completely rule out supporting nuclear power, where would your investments in it rank in comparision to investments in other forms of energy generation, such as renewables, biofuels, and geothermal and hydro power?
As Americans, we are chronically reactive to environmental breakdowns, as opposed to proactive. The failing of the Louisiana levees and the severe shortage of water in Georgia are just two recent examples of where the U.S. was forced to respond to disasters that had been predicted long before. As president, would you change the course of environmental policy and funding to that of a proactive and conservation-focused strategy, so that we may prevent future predicted disasters, and if so, how?
American car manufactures haven't taken any significant steps in finding alternate fuel vehicles. Japan has created hybrids, Germany has been working hydrogen fuel cells for years. America has brilliant people!
What will the candidates do to force the big three to start becoming a leader in alternate fuels? Flex Fuel is a joke because there is NO infrastructure. What will you do?
I have yet to hear an environmental plan that intertwines with an economical plan for sustainability. I do hear many ideas about environmental plans, but I know that the economy drives the wheel forward. What do you, as President, plan to do in the economic sphere, to reduce pollutants and gain a hold on a sustainable ecological economy and culture. Is the establishment of a anti-green(blue?)tax beyond question?
In light of global warming, do you think we should replace coal fired base power plants with a new generation of nuclear power plants?
Will you require that agency heads have no financial stake in and no prior ties to the industries they are charged with regulating?
Water is essential to life and economy, ask the Romans. 2007 saw floods in Texas and drought in nearby Georgia. With unpredictable climate ahead and conservation limited to when there is water, would you support and advance a 21st Century TVA-style Project building a nationwide network of reservoirs and pipelines/aqueducts/canals dedicated to balancing water resources within and between regions, pumping water from flood areas to drought areas? If not, what specific, long-term infrastructure proposals do you have for managing this essential natural resource on a national level?
Energy Star ratings are mostly a joke as they rarely apply to real-world usage, due to ridiculous human behavior. For example, an Energy Star rating on air conditioners is worthless if owner sets it at 65 in 90+ heat. Would you support converting Energy Star ratings (like useless EPA mileage estimates) from simply measuring efficiency to actually imposing usage limits, like A/C never below 74 degrees or Heaters never above 68, with bona fide health exceptions?
Do you view environmental and energy policy as directly correlated with, and a causative agent in the strain on, human health care, national security, and foreign policy? If not, how do you justify your position?
Its not clear what the natural price level for oil is in today's global environment. Its also hard to imagine that our economy can absorb $100 a barrel for oil. What is your assessment of our economy's ability to handle oil price levels of $90 or more per barrel? How would you ensure that our economy's performance is not adversely affected by high oil price levels?
If elected President will you support AND SIGN the Kyoto Protocol, allowing the United States to join the rest of the World in stemming Global Warming?
Following September 11, 2001, President Bush had an opportunity to ask the American people to sacrifice/donate/help. He squandered this chance to lead and instead asked us to shop. As President, what would you ask of the American people?
What role specifically do you envision for the Federal Government in encouraging the business community to create and impliment innovative solutions to the current climate / environmental crisis?
This question is about immigration and climate change as experts (IPCC) are predicting increasing mass migrations and episodic displacements, like what happened in New Orleans with Katrina, both here and across the globe. What have we learned from the New Orleans experience and what specifically would you propose to prepare the country for these effects from climate change?
re: the impending federal energy bill, would you support unlimited taxpayer-back loan guarantees for risky new nuclear reactors, given that the nuclear power industry has already been heavily subsidized for fifty years?
The fossil record may, millions of years from now, tell a future archaeologist who our current President is. Or it may not. But one thing that will be clear in any case will be the mass extinction of a third of the planet's species in the span of just one hundred years. That is happening now, thanks in large part to global warming. When you consider the legacy you will leave not just to our children, but to hundreds of future generations, how do you intend to prioritize global warming?
With global oil at, or about to, "peak" (a geologic fact - not a theory) where do you stand on not just America's policies but the worlds in regard to energy rationing? Everything we call "The American Way of Life" is powered by oil. What will we do when we can't fill up our happy car utopia? Or plant and fertilize next years food crops? Or power the business that make up our economy?
This is bigger than Global Warming! All current technologies for producing energy that are not fossil fuel based will not even cover 10% of what we use today.
Why is no one talking about this???????
America's population is one of the fastest growing among developed nations and even with miraculous technological breakthroughs, more people will mean more greenhouse gas emissions, pollution, and land clearing. Would your administration ever consider setting tax and other policies that begin to create an American economy whose growth is not dependent on domestic population growth and per capita consumption?
How can the American public be told simultaneously that more nuclear power plants are a viable option for the country's future energy portfolio, while also representing a serious security risk for the U.S.?
Thank you.
How do you think Jesus would have us deal with global warming?
Publications such as Time and Newsweek have recently done pieces on 'peak oil' where the production of oil reaches a maximum, then every year after that point, we see production decline year after year. We can tackle this problem by shifting energy production to other fossil fuels, nuclear, or new experimental sources, but what are you're plans to encourage growth in conservation and efficiency?
Regarding all of your future policies on global climate change, how would you engage the international community in reducing worldwide CO2 emissions?
The transportation sector in the U.S. consumes about 60% of imported oil. Melding the concerns of depending on oil from centers of geo-political crisis and state run oil companies like Venezuela; global peak oil likely by 2020; and greenhouse gas emissions driving climate change, what would you do to reduce transportation-based energy consumption and GHG emissions? Are market-based or regulatory strategies more effective? How do we strike the balance between the efficient goods movement on which our economy depends, and tempering energy consumption?
How will your administration be proactive in protecting, open space roadless areas and wilderness.
for all candidates:
We have proven technologies that can take us to energy independence now. These renewable technologies need a level playing field in which to compete. What will you do to make sure renewable technologies are not hampered by entrenched industry interests in coal, oil, and nuclear and the power generating utilities?
This year we not only saw a quick rise in oil, but we were faced with longer waits at airports and more cars on the road. Europe is well known for its high speed trains for traveling. What other sustainable and less expensive ways can we use to reduce our reliance on oil and ease the burden in the air and on the road?
Two questions:
1) With the acceptance of ethanol as a gasoline additive against the advice of most environmentalists, we have found ourselves in a predicament where no one is happy - yellow livestock feed corn prices are increasing, reducing white corn production, and raising corn prices for human consumption. Gasoline mileage is lower, and the exhaust is not much cleaner than it was before; and too many people are frustrated that the "environmentalists" wasted everyone's time again.
No one likes agreeing to a compromise that solves no problems. If you are president, what will you do to ensure that political pressure will not dominate the energy debate in place of science?
2) With the discovery and exploration of vast quantities of oil shale in the west - largely focused in the environmentally sensitive Green River Basin of Colorado - what will you as president do to ensure a balance between the energy demands of the US and the long-term environmental needs we will all face down the road?
How would you support infrastructure changes to make our cities linked by rail? How about changes to make our cities bike, pedestrian and bus and light rail friendly?
In my view the most dynamic threat to the US economy and our way of life is our lack of energy independence. Does anyone have a bold vision for leading our country towards this goal? It???s the primordial issue of our lives-and no one talks about it with passion and urgency.
We Americans are addicted to oil. But oil will not last forever, and it makes us dependent on some countries who are not our friends. Some believe a crisis is just around the corner. Do you think America should commence an alternive energy program on the scale of the Kennedy Man-on-the-Moon Project or the Roosevelt Manhattan Project?
To all of the candidates:
I want to know how you get, understand, & use data (scientific, socioeconomic, intelligence, etc.) to form policy.
Can you comment on "data driven" decision making?
This is not topic specific or a dig on past intelligence information.
Do you cook your own food? When was the last time you personally went to a grocery store? Do you buy organic produce?
Currently, more oil is used to grow an acre of corn than an acre of corn yields in ethanol. Why is this currently considered a viable alternative fuel?
What is the right way to deal with increases in gas prices - encouraging alternative energy, digging for oil in Alaska, negotiation with OPEC, reduction in gas taxes - and what would you take off the table?
I vote environment. I also recognize the need to play the political game to get things accomplished in Washington. Unfortunately, it seems that what can be accomplished is often stupid. For example, corn based ethanol requires almost as much energy to produce as it provides on burning, yet some of you support it for political reasons. What do you think are the truly achievable solutions to our environmental problems?
Recently, the newly elected prime minister of Australia, Kevin Rudd, has decided to ratify the Kyoto Protocol and create a Ministry of Climiate Change. Would you consider doing the same if elected? If so, what would be the mission and responsibilities of this position?
Hundreds of toys have been recalled in recent months because they contain lead. The EU recently voted to prohibit the use of phthalates in toys. These two factors leave me paralyzed in the toy store. What will you do to protect American children from toxic toys?
Would you be willing to require the opening up of energy related technology that is currently being held proprietarily by large organizations?
Since all vehicles that have the ability to operate on E-85 fuel also have the ability to operate on pure ethanol, why should the oil companies be subsidized to blend fossil fuel into pure ethanol. Why not allow the ethanol producers to sell the pure ethanol to customers without the oil companies involvement. Perhaps then the price of ethanol will reflect the production cost, not the gasoline equivalent.
To all candidates:
Recently the new Australian ruler has stated he will sign the Kyoto protocol. If he does, then the United States will be the only hold-out. If elected, will you sign the Kyoto protocol?
I am alarmed not only by the rate of global warming and its impact on the most vulnerable of humans and animals on our planet, but also at the rate at which we are funneling our finances into potentially terrorist Islamic banks. How quickly do you think we can get the US switched to electric and hybrid cars, and hydrogen or other non-polluting power plants?
As president, how will you unite our country to the fact that we are one of the biggest contributors to the global warming crisis when you aren't able to stop attacking one another? It would be conforting to know that the next president would be a person who could bring people together positively without all the negativity.
To All:
Given the presence of efficient, powerful long range electric cars like those produced by Tesla Motors would it be reasonable for the government to support incentives that would result in a program using the resources of the big three automakers in concert with companies such as Tesla to lower production costs and wean Americans off the internal combustion engine?
And, if not, why?
Canidates, what is your number one priority in the conservation of our nation's natural resources, and why?
To all candidates: Response to the climate crisis has been insufficient and time to ameliorate the worst catastrophes is short. What is your response to the imposition of equitable carbon rationing worldwide?
Dear Candiates, in the midst of an environmental revolution and an oil crisis, who do you support more: the earth and it's citizens, or the oil and motor companies? Do you support laws that would require severe improvements in efficiency standards for motor vehicles? What will you do to improve public transportation nationally? Will there be incentives or rebates for those who choose alternative or public methods of transportation?
Designating the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge a National Park would permanently end the debate about opening it up to drilling for oil. It would therefore encourage us to look for alternate forms of energy while protecting an important wilderness area. Would you support turning the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge into the Arctic National Park?
Do you have a contingency plan to not just deal with, but preemptively prepare for, frequent environmental catastrophes, such as widespread drought, fires, flooding, that will likely increase during your administration?
To all:
Global Warming has now been officially designated a global disaster in the making by the UN and others - equivelent in scale to that of World War II. What specifically will you do to mobilize the resources required, both at home and abroad, to address this issue before it is a real disaster and not just a looming one?
Why aren't human beings and human activities considered to be PART OF the environment, in the same way that all other forms of life and their activites are? Then again, perhaps the real question is: Do you 'believe' in Evolution?
So far there has been a lot of talk about policies related to climate change. However, there are more immediate issues pertaining to the environment and public health that have not been discussed. I would like to know what the candidates plan to do regarding environmental toxins that are present in everything from the rubber duckies our children play with to the cosmetics we beautify ourselves with? The EU has recently taken up this issue and banned many ingredients that, while not 100% conclusively known to cause harm, pose a reasonable risk. Will you push the US to follow suit?
Why are we not making our Ethanol from sugar imported from Brazil when it is much cheaper than our subsidized corn-based ethanol? American consumers are suffering at the hands of American corporate farmers.
I am a Cuban American that came from Cuba legally in February 1959 after my father left Cuba in 1957 because the Dictator Batista brutaly torture him and almost kill him I like to know if you are going to pesude the same faliure policy dictated by the son and doughters of the criminal that left Cuba after Batista left. The one of trying to kill Mr. Castro that started in 1059 after he took power? Also are you going to allow for the same terrorist that freely walk the Street o Miami today like Pozada Carriles? Continue to allow for the Republican Miami congressman and woman that use tax pager money to encourage disidents against the Cuban Goverment and who is going to make sure some one is accountable. As an Cuban American I resent this faliure policy that Ms Clinto endorse to get the Cuban vote in Florida. I believe is better to have a relation of people to people by allowing All American to travel and find out for themself. Also why Ants an Uncles are not included in a family that we cannot visit in Cuba??
In the 1970s, President Carter donned a cardigan sweater, went on TV and asked the American people to turn down their heat to save energy. It didn't go so well (to put it mildly). As president, what will you do to ask individuals to give up their energy-hogging ways? And how might you use Al Gore to help in that regard? (Secretary of Energy, perhaps?)
Republican administrations have appeared to be more favorably inclined towards the development of commercial nuclear power than Democratic administrations. The domestic use of nuclear generated electricity appears to be on the verge of a revival after nearly 12 years of Republican stewardship. I believe that nuclear should play a role in providing for our energy independence and reduction on foreign oil along with other alternative sources that can be developed. What is your position on the use of nuclear generated electricity, and would you be a champion or an adversary to its expansion in the coming years.
I believe that the government needs to get more involved in preventing global warming. In the sixties, there was the space race, to see who would be the first to get into space and on to the moon. I think that there should be a ???green race???, in which the government challenges or subsidizes American car companies so that every car produced in the United States would be a hybrid car by a given year. Can any of the candidates get behind this idea? We would use less oil and produce much less pollution.
Our economy rests on a premise of unending growth in a finite world. Do you accept that this is a fundamental contradiction? If not, please explain how the world economy will continue to grow in spite of rapidly accelerating environmental degradation and exhaustion of basic resources like fresh water, fossil fuels and arable land.
Michael Feltes
Decatur, IL
The United States has many problems, but our dependance on foreign sources for energy will very likely lead to a catastrophy in our economy in the next decade or less and compound the ability to correct ALL or most of our other issues. Assuming you are elected & run for and elected to a second term, this problem is you MUST to solve. What WILL you do to accomplish this goal. If not corrected in the next decade it will be to late.
This question is specifically for John Edwards, but others can answer as well. In 1999 you voted in support of a bill to allow mountain top removal mining. Is this still your position and how do you justify it if it is?
If you are not nomincated as the Democratic Presidential Candidate, will you accepet a nomination for Vice-President?
What criteria will you follow in allowing or disallowing Presidential Pardons? In answering, please comment on the pardons granted by the last three presidents?
To all:
In light of the pending 2007 Farm Bill, 1) What is your opinion on eliminating direct payments subsidies and 2) What is your opinion on increased funding to more important agricultural programs, including conservation and alternative fuels?
Most of the earth's species, including ours, face the danger of extinction within just a few human generations. Only by significantly reducing carbon emissions and controlling human population growth can we avert this catastrophe. The current President and Congress--both Democrats and Republicans--have failed to take the necessary measures to avert the extinction of our great grandchildren. Even mild actions, such as increasing fuel economy standards for automobiles, are torpedoed by special interests. As President, what measures will you take to save our species and others?
Just like Joe Biden talks about a "big picture" approach to the problems in the Middle East, I'm wondering if any of the candidates have a "big picture" plan for the environment and economy. Our consumer based economy is driven by unsustainable consumption of disposable products and we are destroying the only planet we have. Have any of the candidates given any thought to how we might create a sustainable environmentally friendly economy?
In light of the exponential growth of the worlds population, a topic being ingored; what good will any environmental or conservation programs really do?
I'm undecided and feeling disenfranchised in Michigan. Global Warming is my biggest concern. Who among you will have the courage to lead our nation through the toughest times ahead when we finally wake up and realize that we have to make dramatic changes to save this planet?
On impeachment, for Clinton, Biden, Kucinich, Obama:
You are sitting members of Congress right now. Will you, for the rest of your present term of office, wholeheartedly push to impeach Cheney, Bush and other members of the administration before they sneak out of office?
If not, please explain what these words mean to you: "I {Hillary, Joe, Dennis, or Barack} do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God.??????
Explain how you can support and defend the Constitution against a domestic enemy--an administration that has spent the last seven years gutting it, ignoring it, repealing parts of it-- unless you impeach them and remove them from office?
Otherwise, you have broken your solemn oath, and you should resign or yourself be impeached and removed from office, right?
Under your administration, how long would it be before you pulled the plug on Ethanol?
On The Oil Drum today. www.theoildrum.com
The Implications of Biofuel Production for United States Water Supplies
http://www.theoildrum.com/node/3285
http://www.theoildrum.com/node/3285#more
US Cropland: 442 million acres (20 percent of the land area)
1 bushel of corn yields 2.5 gallons of ethanol.
1 acre yields 160 bushels. (All-time record in 2004.)
1 acre yields 400 gallons of ethanol (2.5 x 160).
One gallon net takes 3 to produce (optimistic EROEI of 1.34 to 1 so 400/4 = 100)
442 million acres x 100 = 44.2 billion gallons net return
Ethanol has less energy density 44.2/1.5 = 29.5 billion gallons net ethanol
We use 144 billion gallons of gasoline per year
29.5 is 21% of 144 billion demand.
To all candidates: Yucca Mountain was chosen long ago to be the nation???s permanent repository for nuclear waste, that from Department of Defense bomb-making operations and also from energy utilities across the country, who are now paying dues for its construction. Yucca has been thoroughly reviewed and approved by the nation???s best scientific minds in all appropriate disciplines.
Will you allow Yucca Mountain to open? If not, then where will the nation's increasing nuclear waste go? Do you expect South Carolina to take it -- because the citizens of South Carolina have already done their share of stewarding nuclear waste for the nation.
Most Americans seem to feel that they have the right to drive whichever vehicle they choose, yet a large majority of the scientific community agrees that we must dramatically reduce our emissions of greenhouse gases or face environmental catastrophe.
What should be the federal government's role in balancing consumers' demand for large cars with the looming global crisis related to CO2 emissions and their effect on global warming?
I don't agree with much of what our current president has said, but I agree with his comment about our country's addiction to oil. Gov. Richardson has recently referred to an Apollo program for energy. (Charlie Rose interview) I would like to hear the candidates' plans to use an intelligent energy program to resolve some of our foreign policy, jobs loss, and environmental problems. Thank you.
I had my own question, but, after reviewing those of others, I feel that the question asked by Tony Menendez, submitted on 5:27pm tonight, 11/29, should be honored and asked of the candidates. It is not in perfect English, but it brings up very important points about our support of the US policy toward Cuba. Please honor this man's right aa an immigrant citizen who arrived here before the Cuban Revolution.
As a former service member, I had the privilege of living in Germany for two years. German law mandated every resident to participate in a recycling program. I was amazed at how little actual waste was left after separation of recyclable items.
It seems that recycling is one of the easiest and most fundamental actions every person could do in order to better the environment.
Why can't there be national legislation or incentives to either require or encourage more local communities to participate in recycling programs?
What will you do to curtail greenhouse emissions?
Scientists have stated that the most important thing we can easily do to reduce energy consumption and thus greenhouse gas emissions is to INCREASE ENERGY EFFICIENCY across the board - in houses, office buildings, appliances, etc.
Will you pledge to begin an emergency, expedited program of research and public education to make America's energy use more efficient?
Everyone favors conservation as one way to ease the energy pinch. The quickest, surest, and easiest way to save gasoline is to adopt and enforce a 55 mile an hour speed limit on our highways. It worked before and would work again. Is this common sense measure -- like taxes, entitlements, and other belt tightening steps -- simply too hot to handle?
Given the international tecignition given to former Vice President, Al Gore, for his efforts to focus the world's attention on the impact of human activities on earth's climate, what role would you have him play in your administration.
How important will it be for you in your first term, to move the United States off of an oil based economy to another or series of other energy sources? What percentage of oil currently being used in the US will you commit to reducing in your first term?
The United States has only recently opened its eyes to the security threat of global warming. As president, what will you do to rapidly reduce the carbon footprint of the United States and stimulate the transition to renewable energy?
Please explain how an economic system apparently wedded to an ever-increasing expansion of GNP and personal consumption is compatible with a sustainable footprint on a finite planet, particularly given the population of the U.S., and the fact that our lifestyle is actively emulated by two much more populous emerging economic giants--China and India. Do anticipated technological improvements in production efficiency and development of non-fossil fuel-based energy sources alter the fundamental incongruity between the goals of a sustainable footprint and endless economic expansion?
As president what would you do to make our communities more livable and much less dependent on automobiles? I believe that community design is fundamental to changing our life style so we much less dependent on internal combustion engine powered transportation. I would to see cities and town where walking and bicycling are encouraged as means of transportation rather than discouraged by the automobile and our automobile centered culture.
Why do we allow companies who drill on our national lands and offshore to charge the same prices artificially set by OPEC's production?
Highways are a vital part of the economy, yet also have resulted in auto-dependency and the attending, air pollution, urban sprawl, and hunger for oil. The Federal government spends billions every year to support highway construction. What is the appropriate balance between highway building and the environment? Any chance that the system of pet highway projects in Congress will change under your watch?
Our economy is very sensitive to the energy supply and in particular, the supply of oil. Our country needs leaders who are willing to take true leadership positions and to not nessarily do what is popular, but what is needed. Raising CAFE standards only puts off into the future conservation methods and the time to act is now. What are you as a candidate willing to do NOW to create and enforce an environment that conserves energy and moves away from dependence on foreign oil?
Health care in the US is available and of high quality. But is extremely expensive. Most health care plans ignore this reality and instead of targeting less expensive health care, they instead devise yet another way to pay for it. The solution is to change the paradigm so that the customer exerts pressure at the time of purchase to reduce the cost, as we do in virtually all other parts of society. What is your solution for the high cost of health care?
Americans want and need signals that reinforce their own best interests in becoming more efficient and developing renewable energy, and they want to know that everyone is feeling the impact and sharing the benefits. We need an energy tax of at least $5/gallon equivalant (with rebates to spread the impact, and we need mandatory 50 mpg standards for cars. We need these now, with at least a 10-year phase-in program. Churchill and FDR told the truth about tough challenges and how taking them on would be a "finest hour". What will you say and do?
In the last 100 years, the world population level has quadrupled, and continues to grow at a rate of about 800 million people per decade. Numerous environmental problems including, greenhouse gas emissions, cannot be effectively addressed without addressing overpopulation. What will you do as president to bring attention and action to this important issue?
Will you sign the Kyoto Accord or a new international accord on limiting greenhouse gas emissions and can you give your reasoning? How will you balance the urgent need to curb global warming with the economic impact on U.S. companies?
Question for all candidates:
Which of you will pledge on 1-20-09 to offer a $1,000,000 tax free reward to the first five producble 100 MPG gasoline engines with another $1,000,000 for the first five designs that allow those engines to be retrofitted into existing automobiles. Then offer a one time $100,000 for every worker in the first factory that starts producing the retrofit engine at a four sigma level of quality so that the installed cost to the automobile owner is $2000.
To reduce our dependency on oil, aid the environment, and promote people-friendly travel, would any of you contemplate boosting mass transportation in the form of train travel, European style in this country?
To candidates who are members of the Congress. After almost four decades of congressional inaction on the problem of energy independence, how can you claim that your leadership record is a worthy qualification for the office of President of the United States.
With all the talk of reducing dependance on oil and global warming, the talk is always about things like solar and wind power, or alternative fuels. Why, when an immediate impact could be had by implementing policies right now that either force, or at least strobgly encourage employers to have employees telecommute. A large portion of the work-force is white collar and could easily work from home, thereby eliminating their commute (which are growing) and hence lower carbon diaxide output and gas consumption dramtially without a large up-front investment and immediate results1 Wouldn't it be more prudent to do something like offer employers a significant tax incentive to have a certain percentage of theire employees telecommute as opposed to investing in solar and wind power in the hopes that the cost will come down and eventually reduce oil dependance and global warming?
If you accept that Peak Oil may be on the world???s doorstep, and that the Bush administration???s strategy appears to be building numerous military bases in Iraq and Afghanistan for the primary purpose of controlling the flow of oil:
Will you, as president, continue this ???winner take all approach???, or will you take the lead in a world view that is based on energy conservation, reducing CO2 emissions, and developing alternative energies that the US, as well as emerging economy???s like China and India, can embrace?
This week the world is meeting in Bali to begin the process of negotiating a new climate treaty. If you were president, what position would you have the U.S. take, and what commitment would you make regarding U.S. reductions in greenhouse gas emissions?
Mr. Obama, I am in agreement with you regarding the need for alternative energy sources. I'd like to hear your opinion about use of corn compared to cellulosic fiber given that chemically identical ethanol produced from corn or soybeans, cellulose ethanol exhibits a net energy content three times higher than corn ethanol and emits a low net level of greenhouse gases. Another issue that concerns me re/ the use of corn is the farmland usage for corn and its effect on food costs.
This request/question goes to all the candidates... Which among you is willing to make the challenge to this nation that, as President Kennedy challenged us to reach the moon, to develop before your term in office is over(figuring two terms!), an affordable alternative to gasoline and diesel fuel to run our vehicles. I believe that the replacement is out there, it's not ethanol, it's something else and I know we as Americans can not only rise to this challenge but meet it. No other goal since the Moon can have such far reaching implications. In National Security, global politics, economic security, environmental stewardship and plain old "can-do". AND it will create a whole new arena for jobs, trade and technology everyone on this planet can benefit from. And anyone that implies this challenge can't be met is either a defeatist or doesn't have faith in the people of this great nation.
considering that overpopulation is the underlying cause of every environmental cause, how come not one candidate has mentioned it?
The United Nations report says we have less than a decade to act on global warming. The auto industry, energy industry, health industry constantly drag their feet on making changes in their way of doing business. They also fund lobbyists and make contributions to political campaigns that can't match those of all the "little people". How will you--with congress--break this grip, use the presidentialo bully pulpit and get the country to understand the changes we all must make as our ploanet's climate changes?
We need to be caring for the environment such as our forests. We're building too much oil companies and factories. We need to be thinking what will happen in the future where there will be no forests, and where will the animals live?
What is your single, top, specific recommendation on what we should do to try to mitigate the impact of global warming?
Bob Warrington, Chappaqua, NY
The next President-elect must provide immediate and continuing leadership to the nation and the world to address climate change. Will you outline a comprehensive climate change action plan to be developed and launched within 150 days of the election?
Below is an update of a previous post.
As president what would you do to make our communities more livable and much less dependent on automobiles? I believe that community design is fundamental to changing our life style to both reduce energy consumption and improve health and safety. I would like to see cities and towns where walking and bicycling are encouraged as means of transportation rather than discouraged by the automobile and our automobile-centered culture.
The next President must provide immediate and continuing leadership to
the nation and the world to address climate change. Will you outline a comprehensive climate change action plan to be developed and launched within 150 days of the election?
-Emily Rocheleau, Londonderry NH
From two beef industry Web sites, "it takes 2.6 pounds of grain and 435 gallons of water to produce a pound of beef in the United States." Some vegetarian Web sites say it takes at least 2500 gallons of water to grow that pound of beef, not 435. But it takes only 25 gallons to produce one pound of wheat or potatoes, 33 gallons for carrots, 49 for apples???not 435 to 2,500. Former rancher Howard Lyman says ???about 70 percent of water used in the eleven western states is dedicated to raising animals for food.???
Given the apparent drought and imminent water shortage in both the southeast and southwest, Georgia being one example, and assuming you discount some exaggeration in the figures, would you spend time researching water usage and waste, especially in drought-stricken states? Or do you consider water waste as short term and unimportant?
Representative Kucinich,
Senator Clinton has taken large (over $100,000) donations from petroleum companies and Senator Edwards owns a house with more than 100,000 square feet. I feel that actions speak louder than words. What environment-related personal actions and habits do you have that set you apart from your contenders?
Hello and I want thank all of you for your consideration.
These days, the "environment" as an issue is completely synonymous in the eyes of the media and public with global warming. Global warming is obviously very important and somewhat of a "hot button" as an issue. However, there are a number of other environmental issues that I feel need to be addressed especially in light of the last 7 years of this administration, which in my opinion has set us back as a country 50 years with regard to the environment. My question is this: as President, what would you do specifically to counter this administration's atrocities with regard to the increase of oil, gas & mineral rights permits issued on public lands; the deforestation of our national forests; the under funding of our national parks; the horrors of the "clean air" act as it applies to both the air and our lakes rivers, and streams and lastly, the decrease of pretected wild lands and redefination of "roadless areas."
Thank you for your time and good luck to all of you.
Tom Coplen
Austin, Texas
Earlier today (Dec. 4) a group of experts led by the University of Colorado announced a 100-day climate action plan for the next President (www.climateactionproject.com). The plan contains more than 100 proposed new policies and programs to jump start federal leadership on climate change. The authors of the plan praised all of the Democratic candidates who have come out with detailed ideas for climate action. But given the estimates by some scientists that we have only a few years to act if we wish to avoid dangerous consequences of global warming, the team urged all the candidates to talk not only about WHAT they'll do, but also WHEN they'll do it. Do you intend to tell the public what substantive action on climate change you would take in the first months of your Administration?
As a group of 18 Seniors at Portage Northern High School in Portage, Michigan, we are interested in each candidate's goals for developing alternative fuel sources for the future and reducing our dependence upon foreign oil.
please ask the candidates what they would do to rebuild and expand commuter and long distance passenger heavy rail and light rail systems in the US. hopefully they are all aware that rail is by far the most energy efficient way to move people and goods.
as cities like mine (seattle) try and build light rail we are finding that federal funds for rail projects have all but been eliminated and the costs fall almost entirely on local governments. by contrast road and airport building and expansion is still heavily subsidized by the federal government.
thanks
What alternative energy source do you find most viable?
"The United States is an uncivilized country," a friend in Australia said to me. I asked what he meant, and he simply declared, "Your country doesn't provide health care for its citizens; therefore it is not a civilized nation." The Republicans yell "socialism" whenever a national healthcare program is proposed. This scare word seems to have led most of the Democrat candidates to fear proposing a true national healh insurance system that eliminates the profits of private insurance companies. Will you pledge to make the United States a civilized country by ending the disgrace of the current system based on profit rather than people?
In Eugope it is possible to have a 35 mpg fleet average for cars right now. Why will it take until 2020 for us to do it?
People are changing the climate. Will you have the courage to go against the "business world" to make needed changes to save all the world's people?
T here are so many of us so concerned about the future of the planet,
the state of the Earth and its inhabitants, global warming, but none of the
candidates seem interested and don't talk about it at all. It's the most
important thing we can consider and it ought to be first in all the candidates
minds. What does each one think they might do about the crisis immediately and
in the long run if they were to become President? If the planet dies, who
cares about iraq, the economy, the immigrants?
The Toyota Prius hybrid gets about 45 to 50 miles per gallon of gas, and has been around now for years. Jonathan Goodwin, an auto mechanic, from Wichita Kansas, has developed a hybrid retrofit for the Hummer that reportedly gets 60 miles per gallon. It costs about 10% of the retail price of the vehicle. If this can be done by a fellow in his garage, shouldn???t Ford General Motors be able to design something at least as effective for their cars and light trucks? And if a Hummer can be built to get 60 mpg by some guy in his garage, shouldn???t the auto industry be building higher mileage cars? Is this important? And if so, What would you do?
http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/120/motorhead-messiah.html
Zero emission clean energy technologies for electricity generation, such as photovoltaic solar, wind power, and ocean current systems, are being deployed in California, New Jersey, New York, Texas, and internationally in Australia, Canada, Ireland, Germany, Spain, and elsewhere. Cogeneration technologies that effectively get significantly more power out of each barrel of oil or ton of coal can easily be retrofitted onto existing buildings. What should we do, and what would you do to deploy these technologies here?
I'd like to ask the candidates if they would consider appointing a high level official, in the likes of "The head of Homeland Security" to lead our nation in the Global Warming Crisis. If so, would you appoint Al Gore?
In 2007 alone, one acre out of every 25 acres in the State of Idaho has been burned in wildfire. The U.S. Forest Service has been primarily responsible for suppressing these fires and a large amount of its total annual budget was spent on wildfire suppression. This left the agency???s other program areas short of funding to manage the land for sustainable multiple uses. One example is the shortage of funding and resources to reduce fire hazards in areas at high risk of wildfire. Another example is that the Forest Service has to request grant money from the State of Idaho to provide recreational opportunities in Idaho???s National Forests that are currently not provided in the quality or quantity desired by the public. If elected, what would you do about this situation?
Do you think that our great country would be stronger if more Americans rode bicycles?
How would you, as president, increase bicycling in the USA?
In a recent presentation Mark Shapiro, who wrote a best selling book on the politics of green chemistry,
when asked why he thought the EU was successful in banning the most toxic chemicals through their REACH program and in replacing the US as the world leader in environmental protection, responded that one big reason was that
in Europe, corporations don't fund election campaigns, so the elected officials are freer to act in their public interest than they are here. Do you favor a voluntary system of public financing of electioncampaigns in the United States that could free our elected officials from their dependence on large campaign contributions by special interest donors and allow them to pass and implement more stringent environmental regulations?
The majority of the world's scientists have declared that the most serious problem facing us is the advance of global warming. As the world's most powerful leader what are your immediate plans on taking office to begin the initiatives needed to face this severe and grave issue?
Which is more important: saving the environment or kicking the foreign oil habit? BioFuels are touted as doing both, but the facts don't seem to bear that out. Has biofuel mania just turned into another corporate welfare program that does more environmental harm than good?
In the last debate there was little discussion of the climate crisis and how you indend to address it if you are elected. I will vote for the candidate who talks about solutions to the climate crisis the most (thus demonstrating to me that you hold the issue as a higher priority than the other candidates). This issue is as urgent as withdrawal of our troops from Iraq. Please tell us what you will do, if you are elected, to reverse the trend that has created the climate crisis we are in now. Thank you.
Voters always want a candidate who's strong. How would a "strong" candidate for president handle corporate and citizen resistance to meeting the challenges of global climate change?
Thank you.
What will you, as president, do to reverse the "hollowing" of the government, the transfer of wealth from the lower & middle classes to the wealthy, and to reverse the practice of disaster capitalism practiced by the USAID, the World Bank and the IMF?
I would like to ask this of all the candidates, but especially Senator Clinton, Senator Biden, Representative Kucinich, and Senator Dodd.
Thanks,
George Bossers
Dear candidates:
In the midst of global warming, why doesn't the goverment make permanent the initial tax incentives that have expired on hybrid cars? Why not apply tax on gas guzzling cars used for recreational purposes only? Why not reduce taxes for both consumers and autocompanies on every fuel efficient car (e.g. prius) bought and sold? Why not change all government vehicles to fuel efficient hybrid models to serve as role model to its citizens?
Please address the possibility of greatly expanding distributed generation of electricity in the community by reverse metering of power from wind or solar installations.
What is your policy for the US to address global warming, and how will you collaborate with the rest of the world's nations to solve this problem? Please be specific about how you would address China and India.
[I'm in] Prospect, KY
Iceland has harnessed geothermal power.
Can the USA find locations where heat from deep within the ground can be used for power generation. Near volcanos at least.
I understand that California needs to apply to the federal governmnet to get a waiver for implementing regulations that would set a higher standard than the federal government's standards. This seems like bureaucratic nonsense to me - shouldn't it be the other way around?
Basic economics at an elementary level explains the concept of externalities -the understanding that all economic transactions do not contain all cost and benefits of the particular transaction. (e.g. pollution is believed to be an externality cost and education and externality benefit). If we the people give you the power to be president what specific examples of policies will you support, promote and sign that move the American Consumer and the producer to quantify and include externality costs in all economic transactions occurring in the United States?
Additionaly, what specific examples of policies have you supported, promoted and signed that move the American consumer and the producer to quantify and include externality costs in all economic transactions occurring in the United States?
The greatest threats to our nation and the world are global warming and species extinction. Leadership is needed to encourage all citizens to conserve energy, and reduce waste. What are your plans to address these issues, and how will you encourage all citizens to participate in making necessary changes?
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