Questions for candidates and incumbents
Here are six statements/questions that we can use to assess an incumbent's or candidate's understanding of the climate issue.
1. The disruption of our climate is a grave and urgent threat to the economy, national security, human health, and to the Earth. It must be addressed now.
Do you pledge to make climate a top legislative priority?
2. We must adopt science-based targets that take a cautious, preventive approach to avoiding dangerous climate disruption. Current best thinking is that the heat-trapping pollutants must not exceed 450 ppm CO2 equivalent, and that we will need emissions cuts of 80% below current levels by 2050 to meet that target.
Do you agree that we should take a precautionary approach to avoiding climate disruption, and if so, what limits do you consider to be safe?
3. The U.S. is the world's biggest source of emissions, and must lead the way by reducing our own greenhouse pollution. Only then will we have the stature needed to forge an international solution.
Do you pledge to support mandatory U.S. emissions cuts without waiting for the next international agreement, or the inclusion of developing nations?
4. Only a committed, international solution will solve this problem. We must act immediately to re-engage the nations of the world, with the goals of:
- engaging the industrialized nations in collective emissions limits;
- finding ways to enable developing nations to adopt clean tech;
- helping developing nations prevent further deforestation.
Do you pledge to work for a truly international approach meeting each of these three goals (int'l emissions limits, clean tech for developing nations, and halting deforestation)?
5. Solving global warming will have costs, but will also bring many benefits that come from making the transition to a clean energy economy. However, every year that we delay action increases the costs of this transition, and makes it increasingly difficult to avoid dangerous climate change.
Do you agree that delay will only make this issue harder to solve?
6. Would you support these measures:
- An immediate moratorium on new coal-fired power plants until a full climate action plan is in place.
- A carbon tax (widely considered the most efficient and cost-effective way to limit greenhouse emissions) or a cap-and-trade system with auctioned (not free) permits.
- Phased-in emission limits beginning before 2010 and resulting in 80% reductions by 2050.
- A hard limit of 450 ppm CO2 equivalent, adjusted according to the latest scientific information.
