Taylor Yurasits: Political Views on Climate Change

The Presidential Election is set for November 8th, 2016 between democrat Hilary Clinton and republican Donald Trump. Voters are encouraged to understand the candidates' climate change views before casting a vote.

Democrat Hilary Clinton

• Goal is to implement half a billion solar panels to convert renewable energy to power every home in the United States
• Will extend smart pollution and efficiency standards for cars, trucks and appliances to help the air clean and save families money
• Plans to initiate a $60 billion Clean Energy Challenge throughout the United States to reduce carbon pollution and increase green energy
• Will provide safe and responsible energy production especially while the United States is converting to a clean energy economy
• Supports coal communities by making coal a priority of the United States economic growth for the 21st century
• Plans to reduce methane emissions across the economy 
• Will allow public lands to stay public to increase protections for natural/cultural resources

Hilary Clinton states "I won't let anyone take us backward, deny our economy the benefits of harnessing a clean energy future, or force our children to endure the catastrophe that would result from unchecked climate change."

Republican Donald Trump

• Wants to take the United States out of the Paris Agreement that was recently signed on April 22nd, 2016
• Plans to have the federal government in control of the public lands
• States "clean water may be one of the most important issues we face as a nation for the next generation"
• Plans to cancel all of current President Obama's actions aimed toward the Climate Action Plan and the Waters of the United States Rule
• Will use money from energy production to rebuild schools, roads, bridges and public infrastructure to boost the American economy and agriculture
• Plans to keep the United States independent of importing energy from the OPEC cartel to ensure a positive relationship
• Believes the United States should not waste financial resources on climate change and use them to promote clean water, reduce diseases, and increase food production

Donald Trump states "The concept of global warming was created by and for the Chinese in order to make U.S. manufacturing non-competitive."
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References:

http://www.businessinsider.com/donald-trump-climate-change-global-warming-environment-policies-plans-platforms-2016-10

https://www.hillaryclinton.com/issues/climate/

​https://www.donaldjtrump.com/press-releases/an-america-first-energy-plan