Via CBS:
Democratic presidential hopeful John Edwards will be in San Francisco Monday where he's expected to speak about global warming.
Edwards is scheduled to discuss his global warming policy at the Palace Hotel at 10:30am. (Right about now)
If I can find a transcript of his speech, I'll post it. Please leave a comment if you see it anywhere. In the meantime, let's take a look at some of Edwards' forward-thinking ideas on global warming and energy conservation.
From the official Edwards blog:
Global warming is not an issue for the future," said Edwards. "It is a crisis that demands action from us today. We have the chance to create an energy revolution in our country, but if we're going to have that happen, we have to be willing to take action now. We need to be smart and responsible about how we use coal, so we can leave our children and grandchildren a safer and cleaner planet."
John Edwards gets it. Perhaps that is why the League of Conservation Voters released this statement:
"Senator Edwards has outlined the most comprehensive global warming plan of any presidential candidate to date. We look forward to other 2008 presidential candidates outlining their plans to address this pressing issue."
Here is Edwards' Energy Plan, in short:
The Edwards Plan halts global warming, achieves energy independence and jumpstarts a new energy economy by:
* Capping greenhouse gas pollution starting in 2010 with a cap-and-trade system, and reducing it by 15 percent by 2020 and 80 percent by 2050, as the latest science says is needed to avoid the worst impacts of global warming.
* Leading the world to a new climate treaty that commits other countries—including developing nations—to reduce their pollution. Edwards will insist that developing countries join us in this effort, offering to share new clean energy technology and, if necessary, using trade agreements to require binding greenhouse reductions.
* Creating a New Energy Economy Fund by auctioning off $10 billion in greenhouse pollution permits and repealing subsidies for big oil companies. The fund will support U.S. research and development in energy technology, help entrepreneurs start new businesses, invest in new carbon-capture and efficient automobile technology and help Americans conserve energy.
* Meeting the demand for more electricity through efficiency for the next decade, instead of producing more electricity.