The results of a preliminary survey conducted by the Sustainable Energy Coalition
show the range of views held by the presidential candidates on climate
change and the proposed Kyoto Protocol.
Democrats Bill Bradley and Al Gore support Senate ratification of the Kyoto Protocol and emphatically concur that climate change is a matter of major concern. Gore stresses “there is overwhelming scientific consensus that human activity is contributing to global warming … while Bradley notes it is a “serious problem” that “we need to confront … without further delay.” Both candidates endorse corporate incentives for voluntary action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
No Republican is in favor of ratifying the Kyoto Protocol. Bush calls it “ineffective, inadequate, and … a bad deal for America and Americans.” He “believe[s] there is global warming,” but “both the causes and impact of this slight warming are uncertain.” What does he think should be done about it? Bush says, “America must work with businesses
… to develop new technologies to reduce harmful emissions.”
John McCain acknowledges that “a growing number of scientists believe that global climate change is a real phenomenon” but sees the issue as a “scientific question, not a political question.” He wants to “encourage energy efficiency and focus research and
development on technologies that will help meet the environmental needs of the next century.” Orrin Hatch merely acknowledges that he “appreciate[s] the global challenges we face in protecting our environment.”
Steve Forbes dismisses the issue: “the catastrophic claims about global warming are deeply flawed; … there is no real evidence the world is heading into an age of super-heated temperatures.” He cautions the treaty could “cost millions of jobs and economically devastate farmers, factory workers, miners, and small businesses. Gary Bauer voices similar objections. “The scientific evidence supporting the theory of global warming is ambiguous and inconclusive” and “it would be foolish to impose on the industrialized nations economy-chilling and job-killing restrictions, while exempting Red China.” Alan Keyes views climate change forecasts as being “hubris of high order.”
Reform Party candidate Pat Buchanan doubts the “apocalyptic forecasts.” Natural Law Party candidate John Hagelin accepts climate change as being “the consensus of the vast majority of atmospheric, geological, and environmental scientists.” He advocates “researching and implementing large-scale, clean, renewable energy alternatives such as wind, solar, biomass, and hydrogen fuel cells.”
A 1998 Sustainable Energy Coalition public opinion survey of 1,000+ registered voters found that 76 percent of respondents said that “a candidate’s position on the environmental and global warming” would make “a real difference” or at least “some difference” in how they vote. 57 percent believed climate change was already contributing to changes in their local weather and 55 percent said “we should act now to reduce its impact on us.” More than 90 percent favored increased use of renewable energy, energy-efficient technologies, and natural gas “for dealing with the pollution that causes climate change.”
Source: Sustainable Energy Coalition: Ken Bossong
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