Obama and Romney on climate change
President Obama has said he believes that human activities contribute to climate change, and that it is one of the most important issues facing the United States. Mitt Romney has said that human activities may not contribute. This is a shift from statements made between 2003 and 2007 when he was governor of Massachusetts.
In 2003, Romney said that he believed climate change was occurring and that human activities contributed. As governor, Romney released a document that contained a plan for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. He also signed regulations that restricted the amount and type of emissions from factories in Massachusetts.
In 2008, during his first bid for the Presidency, Romney changed positions. Now, Romney opposes regulating carbon emissions and has said the causes of climate change are unknown. He also wants to allow fracking, a technique of using chemical-laced water under immense pressure to crack rocks that block access to oil or natural gas, and wants to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for drilling for oil. He also says that green power isn’t viable.
In contrast, President Obama has signed regulations that will require car makers to double average gas mileage. He has also put $90 billion into green energy development. He did attempt to implement a cap-and-trade program, but it died in the Senate. However, he also allowed deep sea drilling to expand, and has put only minimal restrictions on fracking.
In 2003, Romney said that he believed climate change was occurring and that human activities contributed. As governor, Romney released a document that contained a plan for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. He also signed regulations that restricted the amount and type of emissions from factories in Massachusetts.
In 2008, during his first bid for the Presidency, Romney changed positions. Now, Romney opposes regulating carbon emissions and has said the causes of climate change are unknown. He also wants to allow fracking, a technique of using chemical-laced water under immense pressure to crack rocks that block access to oil or natural gas, and wants to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for drilling for oil. He also says that green power isn’t viable.
In contrast, President Obama has signed regulations that will require car makers to double average gas mileage. He has also put $90 billion into green energy development. He did attempt to implement a cap-and-trade program, but it died in the Senate. However, he also allowed deep sea drilling to expand, and has put only minimal restrictions on fracking.