The Emergence of a Bi-Partisan Effort to Combat Climate Change

In a recent article in the NY Times concerning the GOP candidates for the 2008 Presidential Election, differing views surrounding global warming were represented. In the past, Republicans seemed to be labeled as not "believing" in global warming. However, beginning before other Republicans, McCain in 2003, definitely acknowledged global warming. Along with Democratic Senator Lieberman, he put forth a bi-partisan effort to cap and trade emissions of greenhouse gases. This cap and trade concept is exactly the type of system in place in the Kyoto Protocol. In an op-ed article that appeared in the L.A. Times in 2003, McCain stipulated his views on climate change.

The other candidates' views represented in this article all acknowledge that global warming is occurring, however do not possess clear or helpful ideas to remedy the issue. Giuliani and Romney support alternative energy projects, however this alone will not aid the issue of climate change. A cap and trade program coupled with other efforts like the utilization of alternative sources of energy and other technologies, must occur.
This article assets that McCain acknowledged global warming, beginning as early as 2001. He says that he supports entering a cap and trade international environmental treaty, however only if India and China do so as well. In an article from September in the NY Times, China stipulated that if the United States leads the way in a treaty like Kyoto, that they will follow in these footsteps. “China expressed frustration with efforts by the industrialized nations to impose an emissions plan on her country…” If The U.S. enters a treaty like Kyoto in the future, other countries will follow so that this global environmental problem can be met on an equitable plane.