Bernie Sanders releases proposal to fight climate change

mentalfloss

Prickly Curmudgeon Smiter
Jun 28, 2010
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Bernie Sanders releases proposal to fight climate change

WASHINGTON - Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders is rolling out a plan to slow down the impact of climate change, vowing to cut U.S. carbon emissions by 40 per cent by 2030.

The Democratic presidential candidate said in a proposal released Monday that he would seek to impose a tax on carbon dioxide pollution, long a non-starter with majority Republicans in Congress, and aim to slash carbon pollution in the U.S. by 80 per cent by 2050 compared to levels in 1990. The proposal, he said, would put "people before the profits of polluters."

Sanders has made efforts to reduce global warming a cornerstone of his presidential campaign and his 16-page proposal, released as negotiators meet at the U.N. climate conference in Paris, provides the first extensive details on how he would seek to address it.

Democrats view climate change as part of a winning formula against Republicans in the 2016 elections and Sanders' primary opponents, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley, have offered wide-ranging environmental plans. Many Republican candidates have been dismissive of global warming despite public support for efforts to combat it.

Sanders' plan sets goals of creating a 100 per cent clean energy system sustained by wind and solar power but does not specify a timetable for doing so. It estimated the clean energy sector would create 10 million jobs and his plan would also seek to protect low-income and minority communities which have been adversely affected by massive storms like Hurricane Katrina.

It would seek to repeal billions in tax subsidies to oil, gas and other fossil fuel producers, which President Barack Obama has unsuccessfully sought throughout his presidency.

It would also attempt to build upon Obama's work to promote more fuel efficiency in the nation's fleet of cars and trucks. Sanders would seek to raise fuel efficiency standards to 65 miles per gallon for passenger cars by 2025, a higher level compared with current plans to reach 54.5 miles per gallon for the 2025 model year.

Annie Leonard, executive director of Greenpeace USA, said in a statement provided by the campaign that Sanders' plan showed he "has broken free of the corporate and 1 per cent money that has held back climate policy for far too long."

Bernie Sanders releases proposal to fight climate change | CTV News
 

mentalfloss

Prickly Curmudgeon Smiter
Jun 28, 2010
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You think this won't influence the Clinton administration down the line?
 

Walter

Hall of Fame Member
Jan 28, 2007
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Bernie is a doddering old fool who believes women should be raped to fulfil their fantasies.
 

AnnaG

Hall of Fame Member
Jul 5, 2009
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I see the problem with crap like this proposal is that politicians spew stuff they THINK the public wants to hear without researching whether it is possible or feasible. Simply saying that we will stop producing so-and-so by such-and-such will not necessarily make it happen.
Besides that, Earth has a tendency to recover from stuff even if it takes a while. EG: a forest fire may wipe out surface life in an area but stuff grows back starting with the fastest growing stuff.
However, there is a limited amount of mass that constitutes the planet (the Law of Conservation of Mass). The more humans there are, the fewer alternate forms there are and the more effect humans have on the planet.
 

Ludlow

Hall of Fame Member
Jun 7, 2014
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wherever i sit down my ars
I see the problem with crap like this proposal is that politicians spew stuff they THINK the public wants to hear without researching whether it is possible or feasible. Simply saying that we will stop producing so-and-so by such-and-such will not necessarily make it happen.
Besides that, Earth has a tendency to recover from stuff even if it takes a while. EG: a forest fire may wipe out surface life in an area but stuff grows back starting with the fastest growing stuff.
However, there is a limited amount of mass that constitutes the planet (the Law of Conservation of Mass). The more humans there are, the fewer alternate forms there are and the more effect humans have on the planet.
I've been recently thinking along those lines. The earth probably has an immune system just like we do. Hopefully we don't put out more toxins than her immune system can handle. As far as those running for office, it is all a popularity contest..just like religion. They will research the pulse of the voters and pander accordingly to get elected. It's not much more than that.
 

MHz

Time Out
Mar 16, 2007
41,030
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Red Deer AB
The 40% reduction will be gotten by there being a 40% drop in CO2 based activities. Industry and manufacturing and transportation being the places where that 'savings' will come from. Most people better hope we adopt the Finland solution sooner rather than later.

Walnut, you should invest in snowblower parts.
 
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