Green Jersey

Barack vs. Hillary, on the environment

How do Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, New Jersey’s democratic pick for president, stack up on the environment?On grist.org, David Roberts says Barack is his choice for the greener good. Not much separates him from Hillary in terms of climate and energy policy proposals, but it comes down to this:

• Who will be more effective at getting a green agenda past the many obstacles it faces?
• Who will do more to help downticket races and usher more democrats into Congress?

Barack, says Roberts.The League of Conservation Voters gives Barack a higher “lifetime score” on his record than Hillary (96 to 90, out of 100.) While John Edwards was the first to propose a plan to combat climate change during the primary, the league gave him a measly 59.

Here’s a look at the fearless candidates’ stated goals, from CNN.com:

Barack Obama

• Would implement an economy-wide cap-and-trade program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to the level recommended by top scientists.
• Would make the United States a leader in the global effort to combat climate change by leading anew international global warming partnership.
• Would establish a National Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) to speed the introduction of low-carbon non-petroleum fuels.
• Would create a Technology Transfer program within the Department of Energy dedicated to exporting climate-friendly technologies to developing countries.
• Would offer incentives to maintain forests globally and manage them in a sustainable fashion.
• Would develop domestic incentives that reward forest owners, farmers and ranchers when they plant trees, restore grasslands or undertake farming practices that capture carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Hillary Clinton

• Would develop a new treaty to replace the Kyoto Protocol, which is set to expire in 2012.
• Would focus on international attention to solve the problem of global deforestation.
• Would focus the mission of the Department of Energy on moving toward energy independence with a new approach to solar, wind, biofuels, hydropower, geothermal and other sources of renewable energy.
• Would place a market-based cap and trade system to reduce carbon pollution. … In combination with efficiency, fuel economy standards and other proposals, she states the system will ensure the goal of reducing U.S. contribution to global warming below 1990 levels by 80 percent.
• Would oppose drilling in the Arctic National Wildfire Refuge.