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US Presidential 2008 - Policy Comparison
Party key and links to websites:
Democrats: Obama - Biden
Republicans: McCain - Palin
Green Party: McKinney- Clemente
Nader - Gonzalez
Socialist Party USA: Moore - Alexander
Liberatarian Party: Barr - Root
Note: Links correct at time of original publications.
| Obama |
McCain |
Green |
Nader |
SPUSA |
Lib |
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| Acceptance | ||||||
| Accepts the science that the current Climate Change is largely human caused |  |
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| Policy | ||||||
| Separate Climate Policy |  |
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| International | ||||||
| Supports the UN lead Kyoto Process | |
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| Recognition of International Equity Issues around climate change | |
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| Support for developing and poorer nations to tackle climate change | |
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| Goals* | Obama |
McCain |
Green |
Nader |
SPUSA |
Lib |
| Carbon DiOxide Stabilisation Goals | ||||||
| 300 ppm CO2 or below | |
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| Interim Target of 350 ppm CO2 | |
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| Zero Emission Goals | ||||||
| Zero Emissions Minus | |
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| Near Zero | |
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| Zero Net | |
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| 2020 Goals | ||||||
| Zero or Negative emissions by 2050 | |
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| 80% reduction of Greenhouse gas emissions below 1990 levels by 2020 | |
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| 60% reduction of Greenhouse gas emissions below 1990 levels by 2020 | |
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| 40% reduction of Greenhouse gas emissions below 1990 levels by 2020 | |
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| 20% reduction of Greenhouse gas emissions below 1990 levels by 2020 | |
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| A reduction of Greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020 | |
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| 2050 Goals | ||||||
| -25% or more reduction of Greenhouse gas emissions below 1990 levels by 2050 | |
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| Negative emissions by 2050 | |
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| Zero emissions by 2050 | |
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| 80% reduction of Greenhouse gas emissions below 1990 levels by 2050 | |
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| 60% reduction of Greenhouse gas emissions below 1990 levels by 2050 |  |
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| Emission Reduction Mechanisms | Obama |
McCain |
Green |
Nader |
SPUSA |
Lib |
| Government designed mandatory reductions | |
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| Carbon Tax | |
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| Carbon Trading | |
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| Energy | Obama |
McCain |
Green |
Nader |
SPUSA |
Lib |
| Support crash conversion to renewable based electricity system | |
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| Support major role out of renewables | |
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| Support minor role out of renewables | |
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| Support "Gross Feed in Tariff" for small small scale renewables | |
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| Support "Net Feed in Tariff" for small small scale renewables | |
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| Phase Out Domestic Coal Industry | |
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| Oppose "Clean Coal Carbon Capture and Storage" | |
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| Remove Fossil Fuel Subsidies | |
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| Oppose Nuclear Power Plants | |
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| Energy efficiency / reduction | ||||||
| Plan to limit energy growth | |
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| Plan to promote energy efficiency | |
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| Supports Roleout of Smart "Smart Meters" | |
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Transport | Obama |
McCain |
Green |
Nader |
SPUSA |
Lib |
| Near Zero Emission Transport Policy | |
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| Major improvements in public transport | |
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| Minor improvements in public transport | |
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| Support High Speed Rail Link between major cities | |
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| Significant improvements in cycling and walking infrastructure | |
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| Significant decrease in road spending | |
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| Upgrading and expand rail freight | |
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| Support of EV and Plug in Hybrid Vehicles | |
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| Supports low emissions car industry | |
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| Identifies need to act on issues of oil peak | |
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| Opposes coal to oil and other GHG intensive fuels | |
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| Opposes conversion of food to fuel | |
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| Land Clearing and Forestry | Obama |
McCain |
Green |
Nader |
SPUSA |
Lib |
| End to land clearing | |
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| End to logging of native / old forests | |
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| Including land clearing and forestry emissions in carbon tax/trading systems | |
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| Agriculture | ||||||
| Policy to reduce emissions from agriculture | |
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| Acknowledgement of the key role livestock and consequently meat and dairy consumption have on emissions | |
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| Including agricultural emissions in carbon tax/trading systems | |
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| Social Justice / Equity | Obama |
McCain |
Green |
Nader |
SPUSA |
Lib |
| Social justice elements in plans to address climate change | |
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| Social equity elements such as global carbon rationing | |
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| Accepting regional climate refugees | |
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| Population | ||||||
| Plans to reduce or stabilise population growth | |
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1.Bob Barr in a video recording on his presidential campaign website energy policy page claims that polar bears are not endangered. This highlights a complete rejection of the majority scientific consensus around climate change and suggests he is a climate change sceptic.
Key:
= Especially good policy or goes beyond stated goal.
= Supports
= Does not support or no evidence of support.
= Policy position has negative outcomes that deserve highlighting.
= Policy has very negative outcomes or moves us backwards.
= Yet to be assessed.
* = if goals listed in policy are given in a range, for example 60-80% reduction on 1990 the lower figure is used as the reference point.