Posted by Jamie in Climate Change, Green Articles, Green Leaders | 0 Comments
Obama, Clinton, and The Environment
Political figures in the past have rarely involved themselves in environmental issues unless a major disaster occurs. However, recent political leaders have steadily increased their involvement in major environmental issues due to the fact that these issues ultimately affect all other issues in their respective political platforms such as health, foreign policy and economics.
2008’s preparatory campaigns for the U.S. presidential elections saw two of the most promising Democratic senators presenting solid environmental reforms in their respective platforms. Barack Obama – the man who would be America’s first black American President – and former U.S. first lady Hillary Clinton – the woman who could have been America’s first woman president – have both created solid and practical solutions for U.S. and global environmental issues.
Barack Obama’s main environmental agenda in his campaign was to reduce the U.S.’ carbon dioxide emissions to 80% below 1990 levels. Seeing that carbon dioxide greatly contributes to global warming, President Obama sees fit that the U.S. – which happens to be one of the very few countries that did not sign the Kyoto Protocol and one of the top emitters of carbon dioxide in the world – should make active efforts to reduce its carbon emissions for environmental sustainability.
Obama also proposed several ways to generate income from selling emissions permits and eventually using the funds to develop clean energy efficient technologies – an effort he says that will translate to the creation of “green” jobs for American people.
His energy policy also calls for the increased use of renewable resources for energy production in the U.S. He aims to increase the use of such energy resources to 25% by 2025 and to 30% in the succeeding decade. Other key points of his energy plan include increasing biofuel usage, investing billions in R&D for renewables and energy efficiency, and reducing oil consumption.
Obama’s environmental policy also stresses environmental health concerns, an issue that he has a proven track record of. He introduced the Lead-Free Toys act and the Lead Poisoning Reduction Act, both of which were geared towards addressing the issue of children being poisoned by lead components in the toys and other chemicals that are used in toy development.
Hillary Clinton’s environmental policies have also centered on the atmospheric aspect, but put much emphasis on efficiency and gaining independence from foreign energy. Some of her specific environmental proposals include: doubling consumer tax breaks for clean diesel, hybrids and other advanced automobiles, requiring 20% of electricity to come from solar, wind and other renewable sources, providing tax incentives for trading inefficient old vehicles for more efficient ones, tax credits for the cost of installing ethanol pumps, among others.
Clinton also takes a stance on atmospheric pollution endangering U.S. national health. In the course of this decade, Hillary Clinton has continually stressed the EPA to be more effective and efficient in their campaigns to ensure that the air that Americans breathe is healthy and safe.
Clinton also emphasizes the importance of keeping U.S. environmental heritage sites clean and protected from being destroyed. Her support for policies on ensuring that U.S. waterways are clean and that national parks should be under government protection will guarantee that these environmental treasures are well-preserved for the current and succeeding generations of Americans.
Ultimately, Obama’s and Clinton’s respective environmental platforms tell us one thing: environmental issues affect us and should be part and parcel of every leader’s plans for the general welfare and improvement of his community or country.
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