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Will the Next President join California’s fight against Global Warming—or continue standing in the way?

CLCV asked so that you can get the facts—and then get involved

For years, California’s comprehensive greenhouse gas reduction policies have served as the model for the world, culminating in last year’s bipartisan Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (AB 32). But at almost every point, the Bush-Cheney Administration has stood in the way—including its current effort to block the state’s landmark legislation to reduce global warming pollution from automobiles.

Before voting in the Presidential primaries, California voters deserve to know: Will the next President join California’s fight against global warming—or continue standing in the way? That's why the California League of Conservation Voters (CLCV) put four important questions to the candidates last week; answers we have received to date are listed below the following chart.

Candidates' positions on global warming

This information was compiled from candidate websites, their votes in Congress, and recent public statements. It reflects the positions of candidates as of February 4, 2008. As candidates release new policies, we will update this information. Candidates that answered our questionnaire are listed first; the rest are listed alphabetically. View or download a printable PDF of this information.

Candidate	LCV Lifetime Score	Carbon Cap And Targets	Fuel Efficiency	Renewable Electricity Standard	Efficiency Targets	New Coal Plants And Liquid Coal	Answers to our questions?
Barack Obama	96%	Supports 80% reductions by 2050	Supports 50 mpg fleetwide standard in 18 years	Supports 25% standard by 2025	Supports 50% reduction in energy intensity by 2030	Supports investing in liquid coal if it reduces carbon pollution by 10%; will consider standards that ban new conventional coal plants	Senator Obama's answers
John McCain	26%	Lead author of bill to reduce emissions 65% by 2050	Supports fuel efficiency increase, no standard specified	Opposed 10% standard in 2005; opposed 20% standard in 2002	General support for efficiency; no target specified	No articulated position	Did not answer
Candidate	LCV Lifetime Score	Carbon Cap And Targets	Fuel Efficiency	Renewable Electricity Standard	Efficiency Targets	New Coal Plants And Liquid Coal	Answers to our questions?

Answers to key questions on global warming

The California League of Conservation Voters (CLCV) put these questions before the Presidential candidates (as of February 4, 2008).

	If elected President, would you:
Candidate	1. Oppose any and all efforts to preempt state sovereignty on air pollution and global warming? States have long been the laboratories for innovative environmental policies. We need to protect the ability of states to lead. California has already chosen to go further than any existing federal policy.	2. Support an economy-wide cap on greenhouse gas emissions at 1990 levels by 2020 and an 80% reduction in emissions by 2050? This is the essence of California’s landmark AB 32. The Global Warming Solutions Act. It is imperative that any federal policy also bases both its short-term and the long-term reduction targets on the dictates of science.	3. Support an all out federal/state cooperative effort to rapidly expand energy efficiency and renewable energy investments as an essential component of economic recovery efforts?	4. Support a program to impose maximum technologically feasible, cost-effective controls on ships, trains, and trucks to reduce air pollution that causes global warming and accelerates melting of polar ice caps? These major sources are currently not subject to federal climate programs.
Barack Obama	"Yes. I oppose federal efforts to preempt states' ability to enact stronger environmental protections. I opposed the EPA's recent decision to refuse a CA waiver for regulating tailpipe emissions, and I will work to reverse this decision."	"Yes. I have announced a plan to set a hard cap on carbon emissions to ensure an 80% reduction by 2050."	"Yes. My comprehensive energy agenda includes several measures to improve energy efficiency so that our nation is able to reduce its energy intensity 50% by 2030. My agenda focuses on working with states and local governments to improve efficiency standards, deploy efficient technologies and reverse utility incentives so that increased conservation—not increased consumption—is rewarded."	"Yes."
John McCain	No answer.	No answer.	No answer.	No answer.

Candidates' answers are reproduced here as they provided them, without editing. All candidates remaining in the race who responded appear in the chart above; any additional candidate answers we receive will be posted as we receive them.

More info

• Read and comment on the CLCV blog entry
• DailyKos diary
• See our endorsements and results for February 5th and June 3rd