- \n
- You Can’t Argue With Efficiency<\/a><\/li>\n
- Focus on Common Values<\/a><\/li>\n
- Get Out of the Climate Business<\/a><\/li>\n
- Attack Obama’s Green Record<\/a><\/li>\n
- It’s the Weather, Stupid<\/a><\/li>\n
- Don’t Mention Polar Bears<\/a><\/li>\n
- Put Children First<\/a><\/li>\n
- Stop Playing Ostrich<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Environmental Advice for the Candidates From William K. Reilly<\/h2>\n
EPA administrator under George H.W. Bush and co-chairman of the National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling<\/h4>\n
![\"William](\"https:\/\/cdn.outsideonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated-images_parent\/migrated-images_45\/William-Reilly_fe.jpg\")
William Reilly speaks about the investigation of the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico<\/span> (Drew Angerer\/Redux)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n YOU CAN’T ARGUE WITH EFFICIENCY<\/strong>
I\u2019d say to the candidate:\u00a0\u201cAmerica\u2019s energy output is increasing, and its imports are declining\u2014a much desired new trend. We can drive that progress faster if we accelerate energy\u00a0efficiency\u2014better-insulated buildings, lighter cars, more efficient lighting, more wind power\u2014and it all leads toward energy independence and less reliance on other countries. We can also learn from Chicago, which is preparing for hotter,\u00a0drier summers and wetter winters with better hospital facilities for heatstroke victims, plants and trees suitable to the changing climate,\u00a0water-permeable pavement, and green roofs. What\u2019s not to like about efficiency, wind power, and planting trees for the warmer climate much of the country is already experiencing?\u201d<\/p>\nEnvironmental Advice for the Candidates From Gale Norton<\/h2>\n
Secretary of the Interior under George W. Bush and president of Norton Regulatory Strategies<\/h4>\n
![\"Gale](\"https:\/\/cdn.outsideonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated-images_parent\/migrated-images_45\/Gale-Norton_fe.jpg\")
Gale Norton during a House subcommittee hearing on the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.<\/span> (Scott J. Ferrell\/Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n <\/a>FOCUS ON COMMON VALUES<\/strong>
We need to separate bureaucracy from overarching values. Protecting the environment doesn\u2019t have to mean loving red tape. We should explore ways to replace litigation and punitive enforcement with collaborative problem solving, encourage\u00a0innovative technologies, and harness market mechanisms like the acid-rain emissions-trading program. By focusing on ways of making regulation more cost-effective and user-friendly for jobs and communities, we make it easier to eventually\u00a0address more controversial issues like climate change. Common sense and ingenuity will further both America\u2019s economy and its environment.\u00a0<\/p>\nEnvironmental Advice for the Candidates From Jenny Beth Martin<\/h2>\n
Cofounder and national coordinator of Tea Party Patriots<\/h4>\n
![\"Jenny](\"https:\/\/cdn.outsideonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated-images_parent\/migrated-images_45\/Jenny-Beth-Martin_fe.jpg\")
Jenny Beth Martin outside the U.S. Supreme Court<\/span> (Chip Somodevilla\/Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n <\/a>GET OUT OF THE CLIMATE BUSINESS<\/strong>
With high gas prices, the left will campaign for more green policies and for mandates on the auto industry and other businesses that claim the solution to this crisis is energy-efficient products. The American people know these mandates mean more costs to them and more time-consuming regulations. The result, as it always is when government overextends its constitutional role, is lost businesses and jobs. That is the last thing Americans want to hear.<\/p>\nMy suggestion to the candidates\u2014especially Romney, who supported cap-and-trade legislation\u2014is to get government out of the business of dictating unproven energy policies and get back to developing policy that will rein in government spending and balance the budget. The reason climate change is a nonstarter is that it means more government regulation and less freedom, pushing a political agenda and not sound fiscal policy, which is the only way to solve our economic problems.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Environmental Advice for the Candidates From James M. Inhofe<\/h2>\n
Republican senator from Oklahoma and ranking member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee<\/h4>\n
![\"James](\"https:\/\/cdn.outsideonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated-images_parent\/migrated-images_45\/James-Inhofe_fe.jpg\")
Inhofe testifies during an Energy and Power Subcommittee hearing in 2011<\/span> (Bill Clark\/Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n ATTACK OBAMA’S GREEN RECORD<\/strong>
With the election coming up, President Obama will be running as far away from his global-warming record as possible. Look for Governor Romney to shine the spotlight on Obama\u2019s decision to veto the Keystone pipeline, the costly regulations that fulfill his campaign promise that energy prices would \u201cnecessarily skyrocket\u201d on American families, the failure of his green-energy economy with the collapse of Solyndra<\/a>, and his continued war on affordable energy, which seeks to eliminate the production of America\u2019s most abundant natural resources. Obama knows the public is outraged by his agenda, which has done little to nothing for the environment, destroys jobs, and raises gas and electricity prices. Don\u2019t expect him to defend his record but to run away from it and deflect blame.<\/p>\nEnvironmental Advice for the Candidates From Bill McKibben<\/h2>\n
Schumann Distinguished Scholar at Middlebury College, author, and cofounder of 350.org<\/h4>\n
![\"Bill](\"https:\/\/cdn.outsideonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated-images_parent\/migrated-images_45\/Bill-McKibben_fe.jpg\")
Bill McKibben, author and activist<\/span> (Nancie Battaglia)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n - Focus on Common Values<\/a><\/li>\n
![\"Paul](\"https:\/\/cdn.outsideonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated-images_parent\/migrated-images_45\/Paul-Begala_fe.jpg\")
![\"Van](\"https:\/\/cdn.outsideonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated-images_parent\/migrated-images_45\/Van-Jones_fe.jpg\")
![\"Douglas](\"https:\/\/cdn.outsideonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated-images_parent\/migrated-images_45\/Douglas-Brinkley_fe.jpg\")