Climate and Energy

Submit the Kyoto Protocol for ratification by Congress. There are outstanding concerns, such as the participation of countries like China, but it is a step in the right direction. 720 American cities and the entire state of California have already made a commitment to Kyoto. At this point, it is the least a national leader can do.

National Mobilization on Global Warming. We need a Marshal Plan here as big as the NASA Moonwalk Program to 1) Cap Carbon w/tax 2) Create Green Renewable Power Industries (like Google has) w/seed $$$, w/tax breaks for every house installing Solar and/or Wind Power, and All Utilities accepting surplus power back into their grids. 3) Massive Tree Plantings (like China) using a domestic Peace Corps (WPA style) planting multi-millions of Trees. And thereby regain the respect and trust of the Planet.

On Day 1, the next president should demonstrate the political will to create the energy revolution that this world needs. He or she should take steps to reduce and eventually eliminate the nation's dependency on oil. If this isn't done, we'll all find ourselves in big trouble a few years down the road. In this way, the president can demonstrate the kind of courage and leadership that we constantly say we have, and our country can prove its benevolence to the planet.

On Day One the President needs to consider the impact of global warming and its connection to the war in Iraq. We need alternative fuel sources to oil and other fossil fuel sources.

Put a tax on carbon and other greenhouse gases so we can fight our climate crisis. A cap and trade will inevitably be manipulated by the market and business looking to make a buck. We need a REAL price on carbon and other pollutants.

Get serious about a new sustainable energy policy. No coal, no oil. Get serious about climate change.

The next President needs to convince the American people that we are going to have to make sacrifices to effectively fight global warming.

The current administration has greatly undermined scientists, at both the EPA and across the federal government, so it is very important for the next administration to restore the role and independence of science in decision-making.

On Day One, the next President should announce that within ten years, all internal-combustion automobile production will cease. PERIOD. Ethanol and hydrogen cars are pipe dreams of the energy industry. The ONLY way to end our dependence on fossil fuels is to switch to electric cars NOW, and rebuild our national electric grid based on solar, wind, geothermal, and hydroelectric power. ALL subsidies to the energy industry should cease, as they've proven they're unwilling to do their part.

Let's offer major tax cuts to companies willing to do light bulb exchange programs. Many poor and elderly do not have the money to spend $8 on floresent bulbs, set up exchange locations, incadescent for floresent. That will really reduce the USA energy footprint, plus help lower electric bills for those that really need it!