Issue Position: Environment

Issue Position

Issue Position: Environment

Environmental protection and stewardship are important to the health of our families, the strength of our economy, and the future of our planet. America has made great progress in many areas, but on issues such as climate change, clean air, and clean water, we can do much more.

Air pollution continues to pose severe health risks to all Americans. Despite a campaign pledge to control carbon output, as well as clear and convincing evidence that demonstrates the harmful effect pollution has on human health, the Bush Administration continues to advocate a "Clear Skies" initiative that would loosen emission caps on airborne toxins. The health of Americans is not the only thing at risk from pollution. There is a strong scientific consensus that emissions are leading to dangerous global climate change. President Bush insists it is unclear whether this change is manmade or natural, despite the scientific community's findings and the opinion of his own EPA, which in 2002 said that global warming "is real and has been particularly strong within the past 20 years…do mostly to human activities."

The United States must make a serious commitment to environmental stewardship. If we ignore the warning signs and fail to take the necessary steps to protect our planet, we face serious consequences that will have a long-term impact on future generations. Solutions such as drilling in pristine wilderness areas are not going to solve our energy crises, and will only do more harm than good to the country. Greater investment in solar, hydrogen, and fuel cell technology can significantly reduce energy consumption and lead to cleaner air.

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