THE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES ON CLIMATE CHANGE
Obama, Romney duel over climate change in online debate
Neela Bannerjee, September 4, 2012 (LA Times)
“…[I]n comments to the Science Debate website…as part of an online debate organized by a consortium of scientific organizations, the Republican candidate took another position, similar to the more moderate stance he struck last year, when he conceded that the planet was getting warmer…Obama for his part seldom utters the words climate change, although his administration has taken several significant steps to combat it…To Science Debate, Obama identifies climate change as one of the most pressing concerns of the era…and [said] what he might do next.
“Each candidate’s comments about climate change reveal the tensions between appealing to the party faithful and carving inroads toward political centrists. Although climate science has grown more certain and sophisticated over the last two decades, discussion of climate change has become more divisive and politicized…Obama has long been reticent about discussing climate change before most audiences…Speaking to the GOP base during the primaries and the convention, Romney dismissed the idea that the planet was facing threats from climate change…”
“The overwhelming majority of climatologists accept research showing that the use of coal, oil and natural gas have driven up average global temperatures by almost two degrees Fahrenheit since the late 19th century, and a further temperature rise could pose manifold threats to countries, oceans and various species of plants and animals…In his comments at Science Debate, Obama touts the steps he has taken to curtail emissions of heat-trapping greenhouse gases that stoke global warming, including sharp increases in vehicle fuel economy requirements, support of renewable energy sources and cutting carbon dioxide emissions from new power plants.
“Romney dismisses such steps as misguided and economically harmful, but, short of supporting “research,” offers no specific solutions to tackle climate change. The GOP candidate has said that he would strip the Environmental Protection Agency of its’ ability to regulate greenhouse gas emissions and that he opposes more ambitious auto fuel economy standards and a production tax credit to support wind energy…”
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