Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Supports a cap-and-trade system to cut U.S. emissions 80% below 1990 levels by 2050

Renewable Energy: Proposes $50 billion 10-year fund to invest in renewable energy. Aims for 25% of U.S. energy to come from renewables by 2025

Fuel-Economy Standards for Cars: Supports fleetwide standard of 40 mpg by 2020 and 55 mpg by 2030

Coal:

Proposes a “phased-in” requirement to require new coal plants to trap and store carbon emissions. Supports “clean-coal” technologies that produce fewer emissions than conventional.

Nuclear Energy: “Agnostic” regarding nuclear power
Barack Obama

Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Supports a cap-and-trade system to cut U.S. emissions 80% below 1990 levels by 2050

Renewable Energy: Proposes $150 billion over 10-years in investments in renewable energy. Calls for 25% of U.S. energy to come from renewables by 2025 and 30% of the federal government’s electricity to come from renewables by 2020.

Fuel-Economy Standards for Cars: Supports standard for cars of 40 mpg and light trucks of 32 mpg by 2020.

Coal: Would consider a moratorium on new coal plants unless they trap and store carbon emissions as long as this moratorium does not slow the construction of new plants. Supports “clean-coal” technologies that produce fewer emissions than conventional.

Nuclear Energy: Supports nuclear power

John McCain

Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Coauthor of the Climate Stewardship and Innovation Act, which would reduce emissions 65% by 2050. Supports a cap-and-trade system.

Renewable Energy: Supports renewables but does not have an articulated plan for investments or standards. Voted against a 10% standard in 2005 and a 20% standard in 2002.

Fuel-Economy Standards for Cars: Supports raising standards but has not stated a target.

Coal: Supports U.S. use of coal.

Nuclear Energy: Supports nuclear power

Mitt Romney

Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Does not support a cap-and-trade system unless it is enacted globally.

Renewable Energy: Supports renewables but does not have an articulated plan for investments or standards.

Fuel-Economy Standards for Cars: Opposes raising standards and calls for “other steps” to make cars more efficient

Coal: Supports U.S. use of coal.

Nuclear Energy: Supports nuclear power.

Knowledge is Power

Need more info? Check out these sites for comprehensive info about each candidate’s environmental voting records.

League of Conservation Voters
Grist: How Green Is Your Candidate?

Need to Register?

It’s not too late! Click the link below to register and then get out and vote!

Now, I know it can be difficult enough to get your kids to eat veggies as a side dish. If you tell them their dinner is “vegetarian,” you risk an all-out mutiny. But it’s easier than you think to pull off a vegetarian meal. Cheese pizza is popular with kids of all ages, and the same goes for mac and cheese, bean burritos, or spaghetti with a yummy marinara.

If dinner is a hit and you decide to take things one step further, consider taking PETA’s “Pledge To Be Veg” for 30 days. Sign up at their website and they’ll send you an email loaded with recipes and tips for going veggie. Check out their “Chew On This” video below for 30 reasons to go vegetarian. (Please note…THIS VIDEO IS VERY GRAPHIC. IT IS NOT FOR CHILDREN OR FOR THE FAINT OF HEART.)

Watch more videos at PETA.org

I am therefore torn by Wal-Mart’s latest push to “go green.” On the one hand, I am thrilled to find organic cotton clothing available to the masses. Organic produce and dairy products have never been easier to find. And Wal-Mart’s plan to expand the market for CFL light bulbs has single-

handedly caused a market explosion that could very well lead to a “CFL in every socket.” Yet, it remains unclear whether or not these new offerings are really green or just “green-washed”.

I mention all of this today in response to Wal-Mart’s latest environmental move. They have recently partnered with a non-profit called the Carbon Disclosure Project in an effort to improve the energy efficiency of their stores and their supply chain. The retailer will participate in a pilot project to report all of the energy used in the manufacturing, distribution, procurement and supply of seven commonly-used household items, namely, DVDs, toothpaste, soap, milk, beer, vacuum cleaners and soda.

This seems like good news to me…a large company like Wal-Mart could potentially account for real reductions in energy use and overall greenhouse gas emissions. Yet I remain wary. What do you think?

Photo courtesy of www.freeimages.co.uk.