Environmental Politics
Chris Eriksen

With election time drawing near, both Mitt Romney and Barack Obama have felt the need to address the American people over the issues involving the environment. “We need an energy strategy for the future,” says President Obama. “An all-of-the-above strategy for the 21st century that develops every source of American-made energy.” I found this quote plastered loudly on Barack Obama’s website under the environmental section. Also on the environmental page was information on his efforts towards reducing climate change and taking steps to reduce air and water pollution. However, while I was digging through candidate Mitt Romney’s website, I found not even a single page dedicated towards the environment. There was, however, one page dedicated to his efforts on making a new energy plan that would trump Obama’s.

I feel that Mitt Romney’s lack of views and concern for the environment is unacceptable for a presidential candidate. In February 2012, the United States, through Barack Obama’s leadership, launched the Climate and Clean Air Coalition to Reduce Short-Lived Climate Pollution. This is a global initiative to make quick and effective progress on air quality and climate control. While Barack Obama showed his care for the environment and its necessity towards the health and future of the American people, Mitt Romney made this statement, “The reason I'm in this race is to help people, I’m not in this race to slow the rise of the oceans or to heal the planet. I'm in this race to help the American people." The naivety and hypocrisy in that statement to me is appalling. He is saying he wants to help the American people but does not understand that taking steps to help the environment and stop climate change and reduce greenhouse gases is helping the American people by providing a sustainable future for future generations.

This topic of environmental sustainability and care for the earth is very important and should be on every voters mind when they go to the ballots. We need a presidential candidate with a panoply of views and ideas that can help our country, but if they are too nearsighted to not even care for the environment, then I don’t believe they can lead this country. Environmental sustainability is a global issue that deserves Presidential leadership and should definitely be high on the agenda for anyone who wants to be the President of the United States.