Environment

Lauren D. Theodore, Nick R.   **I. What is the issue? ** What is climate change? It is the gradual change in an area's climate that occurs either drastically, quickly, or painfully slow and can happen anywhere and affect anyone or anything. media type="google" key="8453442377878175440&hl=en&fs=true" width="400" height="326" This video is about Global Warming and its causes and effects. This is by the Blue Man Group. FYI, the video will buffer sometimes, but it will eventually become normal. While waiting, please read the rest of the article.

The government's job is to protect the nation and its inhabitants and climate change poses a threat to both of them in the form of rising sea levels. To help end Global Warming and climate change, the US government is trying to employ a cap and trade auction in which companies would have to bid for the right to pollute and the money from that auction would go towards combating climate change. (Obama 1, McCain 1, Scholastics)

On top of that, the U.S. government has already started funding research to help halt and undo the damage being done by climate change. (State Department) The government has employed a three-step plan to try and end climate change. Those three steps are "slowing the growth of emissions, strengthening science, technology and institutions and enhancing international cooperation." (EPA) Through this plan, the government hopes to reverse the effects of human-caused climate change.

Scientists predict that in the next hundred years the average sea level is likely to rise between 7 and 23 inches above its current level. If something isn't done about what's happening these changes could continue for decades or centuries to come. (NY Times) This rise in sea level is most likely to affect areas such as Florida and the Chesapeake Bay region, where rising sea levels will eat up a large chunk of coast line. (Climate)


 * There are many contributing factors to the harmful things happening to the environment. ** Pollution, major decrease in fossil fuels and domestic oil, litter, and emission of harmful greenhouse gasses are only a small portion of these contributing factors. ( [|environment.about.com], [|umich.edu] , [|alternativeenergy.com] ) 

**II. What are the specific policies being discussed in the campaign? **  <span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 13pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri">Pollution is fatal to the Earth, and if no one acts now they might never. Emission of greenhouse gasses and much more defilement is gradually becoming increasingly high. <span style="FONT-SIZE: 15pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Recent research showed that pollutants from fossil fuel use in the air (Greenhouse Gasses <span style="FONT-SIZE: 13pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri">) <span style="FONT-SIZE: 13pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri">are destroying the ozone layer ( [|alternativeenergy.com] ) and are causing global dimming, which is when the <span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 15pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">clouds produced from gasses reflect more of the sun’s beams back into space, which means less heat and energy reach the earth. Global Warming is when the Earth’s average atmosphere’s temperature rises and sustains the rising at a constant speed. ( [|nasa.gov] )

<span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">One topic being addressed is the implication of a cap and trade market but with economy at a down turn that may affect the costs of everyday needs and drive them up because companies will have to pay to pollute. For a good diagram about how and why areas are being afected by climate change visit ( [|U.S News] ). <span style="FONT-SIZE: 15pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> <span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"> <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif"> <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> <span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">**<span style="FONT-SIZE: 15pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">III. What are McCain and Obama's positions on the issue? **<span style="FONT-SIZE: 14.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> <span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"> ·  <span style="FONT-SIZE: 15pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">McCain wants to end the U.S.'s dependency on foreign oil but doesn't give a completion date ( [|McCain 1], [|McCain 2] ) <span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> <span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"> ·  <span style="FONT-SIZE: 15pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Instead he would use oil drilled off shore. “But the point is, also, on oil drilling, oil drilling offshore now is vital so that we can bridge the gap. We can bridge the gap between imported oil, which is a national security issue, as well as any other, and it will reduce the price of a barrel of oil, because when people know there's a greater supply, then the cost of that will go down.” (McCain, John) ( [|CPD] ) McCain wants to end dependency on foreign oil but doesn’t give a completion date. <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> <span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"> ·  <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">McCain would encourage zero emission cars ( [|McCain 1], [|McCain 2] ) <span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"> ·  <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">He would also offer rewards to car companies who will produce an affordable zero emission car( [|McCain 1], [|McCain 2] ) <span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"> ·  <span style="FONT-SIZE: 15pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">He says that Nuclear energy is the solution to all our climate issues <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">( [|McCain 1], [|McCain 2] ) <span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"> ·  <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">His view is that man-created GHG emissions are the main cause of global warming despite what his running mate, Sarah Palin, says. ( [|Washington Post 2] ) <span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"> ·  <span style="FONT-SIZE: 15pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">He wants to install a cap-and-trade market to help with alternative fuel <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> <span style="FONT-SIZE: 15pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">In this video McCain says that he has agreed with the current president most of the time and will probably continue the climate change policy things at the same rate. media type="youtube" key="uThoBMfcFRc" height="344" width="425" **<span style="FONT-SIZE: 13pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt"> <span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">McCain says **<span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 13pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">he will use the cap and trade system. “A <span style="FONT-SIZE: 13pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt"> cap-and-trade system harnesses human ingenuity in the pursuit of alternatives to carbon-based fuels. Market participants are allotted total permits equal to the cap on greenhouse gas emissions. If they can invent, improve, or acquire a way to reduce their emissions, they can sell their extra permits for cash. The profit motive will coordinate the efforts of venture capitalists, corporate planners, entrepreneurs, and environmentalists on the common motive of reducing emissions.” ( [|johnmccain.com/Informing/Issues] ) <span style="FONT-SIZE: 13pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> He will also use renewable energy, biofuels, clean coal, nuclear power plants, fuel-economy standards for automobiles, expansion of natural gas and domestic oil production, <span style="FONT-SIZE: 13pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt">taking action now to break our dependency on foreign oil by reforming our transportation sector. Will give away a lot of emission credits when he starts his plan. ( <span style="FONT-SIZE: 13pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt"> [|johnmccain.com/Informing/Issues], <span style="FONT-SIZE: 13pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> [|alternativeenergy.com] ) <span style="FONT-SIZE: 13pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt"> <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">
 * <span style="FONT-SIZE: 15pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt">McCain's positions are: **<span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> <span style="FONT-SIZE: 7.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">

<span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">**<span style="FONT-SIZE: 15pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt">Obama’s positions are: **<span style="FONT-SIZE: 7.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> <span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"> ·  <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Obama also wants to cease dependence on foreign oil, but he wants it done within 10 years ( [|Obama 1], [|Obama 2] ) <span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt">“I think that in ten years, we can reduce our dependence so that we no longer have to import oil from the Middle East or Venezuela. I think that's about a realistic timeframe.”(Obama, Barack) ( [|CPD] ) <span style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"> <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> <span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"> ·  <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">He wants to give financial relief to the American general public at large. ( [|Obama 1], [|Obama 2] ) <span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"> ·  <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">He also says that through technology we can create more earth friendly energy sources ( [|Obama 2] ) <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> <span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"> ·  <span style="FONT-SIZE: 11.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt">Obama says he will use a cap and trade system,  <span style="FONT-SIZE: 13pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt"> <span style="FONT-SIZE: 13pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">new energy for America, <span style="FONT-SIZE: 13pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic">get rid of our current imports from the Middle East and Venezuela, reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80%, will <span style="FONT-SIZE: 13pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri">auction off 100% of credits from emission to make polluters pay for their right to put off greenhouse gases, opposes offshore drilling, would like to raise fuel economy standards by 4%, [|25% of U.S. electricity from renewable energy by 202] 5. ( [|alternativeenergy.com], [|barackobama.com/pdf] , [|my.barackobama.com] ) <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">

<span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"> ·  <span style="FONT-SIZE: 15pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">That change is needed. <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">( [|Obama 1], [|Obama 2] , [|McCain 1] , [|Scholastics] , [|Washington post 1] , [|US news] , [|State Department] ) <span style="FONT-SIZE: 15pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> <span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"> ·  <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">That the US needs to reduce its GHG emissions (CBS news) and that human-caused GHG emissions are the main cause of climate change. ( [|Scholastics] ) <span style="FONT-SIZE: 15pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> <span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"> ·   <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">The USA is a world leader and needs to do something to encourage other countries to help as well. ( [|Obama 1], [|Obama 2] , [|McCain 1] , [|Scholastics] , [|Washington post 1] , [|US news] , [|State Department] ) **<span style="FONT-SIZE: 14.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt"> <span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Their points of disagreement are: **<span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> <span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"> · <span style="FONT-SIZE: 70%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif">    <span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"> <span style="FONT-SIZE: 70%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 18pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">The amount that the U.S. needs to reduce its carbon emissions. Obama says 80% reduction per year by 2050 whereas McCain says that the U.S. only needs to reduce its carbon emission by 60% by 2050. <span style="FONT-SIZE: 14.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">(CBS news) <span style="FONT-SIZE: 15pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> <span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"> ·    <span style="FONT-SIZE: 15pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">McCain thinks nuclear energy is the way to go, but Obama isn’t so sure. ( [|Obama 1], [|McCain 2] ) <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> <span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"> ·  <span style="FONT-SIZE: 15pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">When the U.S. needs to end its dependence of foreign oil. <span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"> <span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"> || **<span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">In their words ** || <span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">“I want to assure you I will make this planet clean ... We will hand to you a cleaner planet than the one you were living in before I became president of the United States.” || <span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">“Global warming is not a someday problem, it is now. ... It’s not the future any of us want for our children. And if we act now, and we act boldly, it doesn’t have to be.” || || <span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Supports reducing carbon emissions to 1990 levels by 2020 and to 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050. || || <span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Supports. Would auction pollution permits to businesses and use the money to help clean up the environment. || || <span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">In 2007, he missed votes on four major environmental bills before Congress. || <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'">
 * <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Their points of agreement are: **
 * <span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"> ||
 * <span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">
 * **<span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">By how much would each candidate cut carbon emissions? (Scientists recommend cutting them to 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050) ** || <span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Supports reducing carbon emissions to 1990 levels by 2020 and to 60 percent below 1990 levels in 2050.
 * **<span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Where do they stand on pollution “permits,” which companies would have to buy if their pollutants were more than the government allowed? (Low-polluting companies could sell permits to higher-polluting ones.) ** || <span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Supports. Would initially give away permits to some business but would move toward an auction. Hasn’t said what he would do with the money raised.
 * **<span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">How did each vote in the Senate on environmental issues? ** || <span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">In 2007, the Sierra Club said he was the only member of Congress who did not vote on any of the 15 major pieces of environmental legislation.