With the 2008 Presidential primary election cycle in full swing, now is a good time to take a look at the remaining candidates’ environmental records and platforms. As there are only 3 serious candidates remaining (I don’t consider Governor Mike Huckabee (R-AR) a serious contender and choose not to give him space here), I thought it would be interesting and educational to see what each has to say on controlling greenhouse grasses, implementing alternative energy policies and cleaning up/protecting our planet.

Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY)
Hillary Clinton’s environmental policy is titled “Powering America’s Future: New Jobs, New Energy,” and she advances the free-market philosophy of fixing our environmental problems via economic incentives and the creation of new industries:

Hillary has a bold and comprehensive plan to address America’s energy and environmental challenges that will establish a green, efficient economy and create as many as five million new jobs.

Hillary Clinton lays out a fairly ambitious plan to reduce carbon emissions, cap greenhouse gases, promote energy independence and infuse the economy with green funds by creating a $50 billion Strategic Energy Fund financed, in part, by oil companies. Clinton also outlines plans to increase fuel standards to 55 mpg by 2030, require federal buildings to be emissions-free by 2009 and promote green standards in the green building industry.

You can view Clinton’s entire plan here.

Senator Barack Obama (D-IL)

After reading over Barak Obama’s energy and environment policies, his main focus in this area seems to be in reducing carbon emissions 80% by 2050. To achieve this goal, he would implement a cap and trade program, confront deforestation, invest in a clean energy future by increasing research into alternative fuels and infusing the workforce with green jobs, and setting the US on a path to energy independence.

Obama’s website is the most intensive in terms of outlining his environmental platform, and he is the most up-front of the other candidates in pointing to the causes of our worsening environmental problems: dependence on foreign oil and climate change. And while his plan is ambitious, you’d like to hope that his attention to detail on the matter may be what’s needed to affect change.

You can read more on Obama’s environmental plan here.

Senator John McCain (R-AZ)
From looking over John McCain’s website, it would appear that his campaign has little room for environmental issues. While McCain tries to impress that he is a ‘Steward of Our Nation’s Rich Heritage,’ he doesn’t actually include any substantive truths to back up that claim. And while McCain’s site states that:

Ensuring clean air, safe and healthy water, sustainable land use, ample greenspace – and the faithful care and management of our natural treasures, including our proud National Park System – is a patriotic responsibility. One that must be met not only for the benefit of our generation, but for our children and those to whom we will pass the American legacy.

- he doesn’t elaborate on what steps he would take to ensure these responsibilities are met. In looking over the rest of McCain’s site, it’s clear that while he has fully developed plans for Iraq, National Security, Immigration, Veterans and Health Care, his Environment section is a little light in terms of advancing true Green policies for the nation.

You can read McCain’s environmental policy here.

My summaries here are brief – I don’t have the time or expertise to truly dive into the intricacies of each candidates’ environmental platforms. Use the links provided to visit each of the presidential contenders websites and learn for yourself which of the candidates is realistically committed to addressing the nation’s environmental problems.