ReZoom

In the 2008 presidential race, red and blue won’t be the only colors – how green each candidate is will have more impact on voter’s choices than ever before. In many polls, environmental concerns rank in the top five issues facing the U.S. today, and the majority of candidates have outlined their stance on environmental issues. If the environment is an issue that you consider to be very important when voting for a candidate, Grist has a comprehensive (yet simple) chart that clearly outlines most candidates’ position on everything from cap-and-trade programs to nuclear energy.

A handy little button in the last box on each candidate allows you to delete that candidate from the chart, leaving only the candidates who you want to compare. I have to say, deleting some of these candidates gave me a somewhat twisted pleasure. Grist also offers short synopses of each candidate here.

Take a quick look at the positions of the winners in Iowa and New Hampshire:

Iowa Caucus

Mike Huckabee – Of the Republican candidates, Huckabee has been one of the more vocal candidates for energy independence and favors increasing the federal budget for alternative energy.

Barack Obama – In October of 2007, Barack Obama finally released his energy/climate proposal. His aggressive plan includes a cap and trade system that would decrease emission reductions by 80 percent by 2050. It also advocates a $150 billion investment plan to boost clean energy and create green jobs. Even among Democrats, he can safely be considered a friend to the environment.

New Hampshire Primary

Hillary Clinton - Like Obama, Hillary has presented a comprehensive environmental and energy plan that includes a cap and trade system and provides for the auction of 100 percent of the pollution permits. Hillary’s policy includes higher efficiency standards for buildings as well as automobiles and money is available to promote renewable energy, plug-in hybrids and carbon sequestration.

John McCain – One of the few Republican candidates to come out and acknowledge man-made global warming, McCain introduced the Climate Stewardship Act of 2003 in the Senate with Joe Lieberman. McCain is probably the most environmentally friendly Republican presidential candidate.