Sign the McCain/Obama Petition for Carbon Neutrality Now
I don't know if you are aware of this or not, but neither Senator John
McCain nor Senator Barack Obama have made their campaigns carbon
neutral. What does this mean? This means that neither candidate is
investing any of the millions of dollars their campaigns have raised to
offset the pollution from their many plane and bus rides.
By purchasing carbon offsets, Obama and McCain would mitigate their campaign's greenhouse gas emissions by funding renewable energy research. This could result in more American jobs, improved national security, and a healthier planet.
Both Senators have proposed "Cap & Trade" emissions programs in the past that operate in a very similar way to carbon credit markets. Why would they propose a program that they won't participate in themselves? Its time for these candidates to stop just talking the talk and to start walking the walk on real environmental policy reform.
Please sign the petition to urge Senators John McCain and Barack Obama to make their campaigns carbon neutral. Environmental leadership isn't just a campaign slogan, its a principle that must be followed now.
By purchasing carbon offsets, Obama and McCain would mitigate their campaign's greenhouse gas emissions by funding renewable energy research. This could result in more American jobs, improved national security, and a healthier planet.
Both Senators have proposed "Cap & Trade" emissions programs in the past that operate in a very similar way to carbon credit markets. Why would they propose a program that they won't participate in themselves? Its time for these candidates to stop just talking the talk and to start walking the walk on real environmental policy reform.
Please sign the petition to urge Senators John McCain and Barack Obama to make their campaigns carbon neutral. Environmental leadership isn't just a campaign slogan, its a principle that must be followed now.
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Clarification (at least for Obama): actually it means he's not investing enough of those millions of dollars. He does offset, just not completely. I would like him to offset completely, however, so I have signed the petition.
February 25, 2008 3:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hey Ben,
Thanks for signing the petition. There will have to be a lot more signatures for this to have any real weight. You're right, Obama has paid down some of his carbon footprint. From what I understand, the private plane company he uses offers its customer the opportunity to pay extra to offset the carbon emissions from their trips. Unfortunately, its hard to judge how reliable to private plane company is in their contributions or whether there is any relationship between the amount users pay and the amount of their emissions.
I think it would be great for Obama to come out as a leader on this and pledge to offset his campaign's emissions. McCain has enough of a commitment to the environment that he will not want to look like he is ignoring the issue and will probably pledge also to offset his campaign's emissions. The environment always benefits the most when both parties are fighting to earn the mantle of "environmentalist." That is how we came by some of our most successful environmental laws like the National Environmental Policy Act, the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act.
Obama and McCain have the opportunity to bring the 1970's back...
http://www.greenpieceblog.com/2008/01/with-obama-is-it-1970s-again.html
February 25, 2008 3:27 PM | Reply | Permalink