Edwards and Obama on Global Warming
April 3rd, 2007 by Carbon CoalitionIt seems that Sen. John Edwards is working to separate himself from the other candidates on the issue of climate change. Not only has he pledged to make his campaign climate neutral, but he has already released a detailed energy plan, “Achieving Energy Independence & Stopping Global Warming Through A New Energy Economy.” Although established as a leader amongst the candidates on this issue, I was excited to see a UNH student put him on the spot last night at the town hall meeting. Questioning his true commitment to climate change the student mentioned a rumor she had heard that the Edwards’ are building a 20,000 sq. ft. house–that’s quite the footprint! Edwards responded “look, I’m not claiming to be holier than thou,” and then he noted the energy saving steps they’ve taken during the building process–from installing solar panels to buying all “five star” appliances (Elizabeth quickly corrected him with a stage whisper that they are actually called ”Energy Star”). I was impressed by his honesty, but it was an answer to a later question that then irked me about his personal “footprint.” Another student asked him what qualities should she be looking for when choosing a candidate to vote for. “I think a President can lead by example” and if it were him, he said, “I would be judging him personally.” Well, if that’s the case, he might want to dig out his bicycle from his gigantic garage and start biking to work (Elizabeth did pull the student aside at the end of the meeting to tell her that although “it’s still big” their house is actually only 10,000 sq. ft.).
I also had the chance to see Sen. Barack Obama today at a town hall meeting in East Rochester. When asked what he thought was the most important environmental issue today, Obama responded: “The climate change issue is the most serious environmental issue that we face because once you hit some of these tipping points and you get the entire global system shifted you can’t reverse it. We’re on a trajectary to get to that tipping point…We’re going to have to start acting right away…As president it will be one of my top two domestic priorities. We have to see it not only as a challenge but also as an opportunity.”
On my way out I shook Obama’s hand, gave him a Carbon Coalition sticker, and asked him if he plans to have a carbon neutral campaign. “We’re investigating setting it up” he said rather ambiguously, “we’re the youngest campaign but that’s something we’re looking into right now.” To take his words, “We’re going to have to start acting right away”…
Audio clips of Obama and Edwards will be posted shortly.
Nothing in “The Political Climate “or Carbon Coalition communications is meant to imply an endorsement of any candidate or political party.
