Talking Points: Climate Change

Topline Messaging Points:

• Global climate change is one of the greatest challenges confronting our country and our world today. John McCain believes we must act now to meet this challenge.

• There is overwhelming consensus that global climate change is real, that man is contributing to the buildup of greenhouse gases and the consequences of this threat cannot be ignored.

• John McCain proposes meeting this challenge through a MARKET-BASED system to curb greenhouse gas emissions, develop new technologies and strengthen our economy.

• The cap-and-trade system sets responsible greenhouse gas reduction goals while providing economic incentives for entrepreneurs, innovators and the business community to achieve them.

• We are compelled to act to address climate change. Climate change is closely aligned with national challenges such as increasing energy independence, and keeping our lead in the innovation of new technologies.

• John McCain has been a leader on the issue of climate change with the courage to call the nation to action.

• John McCain has a proud record as a conservationist in the tradition of Theodore Roosevelt.

• John McCain believes we can safeguard the environment while strengthening our economy.

• In the coming weeks and months, John McCain will continue discussing his strategy for safeguarding our environment and becoming more energy independent.

John McCain's Climate Change Policy:

• The centerpiece of John McCain's climate change policy is a cap-and-trade system that utilizes scientifically-sound, mandatory emission reduction targets.

• His policy minimizes costs, safeguards the economy, spurs the development of advanced technologies and facilitates international cooperation.

The Cap-And-Trade System:

• The cap-and-trade system will set limits on greenhouse gas emissions while encouraging the development of low-cost ways for businesses to comply.

• This system would allow entities to buy and sell rights to emit. Under this system, entities will have an incentive to invent, improve or acquire ways to reduce their emissions because they can sell their extra permits for cash.

• The goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 60 percent below 1990 levels by 2050.

• This system supports rapid economic growth by permitting companies to initially purchase "offsets" to cover up to 100 percent of their required reductions, exempting small businesses from the cap-and-trade system, and building broad trading markets.

John McCain Will Promote Innovating, Developing and Deploying Advanced Technologies

• At the same-time as implementing a cap-and-trade system, John McCain will reform federal government research funding and infrastructure to develop new technologies to facilitate the reduction of emissions.
  

John McCain Will Foster Rapid And Clean Economic Growth

• McCain believes that an effective climate policy can also support rapid economic growth. Under John McCain's cap-and-trade system, businesses will be safeguarded against the impact of economic downturns. The cap-and trade system will allow for the trading, banking and borrowing of emission permits to either accelerate reductions or defer them until a better economic time.

John McCain Will Provide Leadership For Effective International Efforts:

• John McCain believes that there must be a global solution to global climate change but that solution must include India and China.

John McCain's Record Of Protecting The Environment:

• CLIMATE CHANGE: John McCain sponsored the first Senate bill calling for mandatory greenhouse-gas reductions, the 2003 McCain-Lieberman Climate Stewardship Act. John McCain has been a leader in fighting for action to combat global climate change.

• CONSERVATION: John McCain has authored and supported legislation to protect millions of acres of pristine wilderness land. John McCain is a recognized leader in protecting wilderness resources in the West. He supported the passage of the 1984 Arizona Wilderness Act (P.L. 98-406) and later was instrumental in congressional negotiations that led to the passage of the Arizona Desert Wilderness Act of 1990 (P.L. 101-628).

• GRAND CANYON: John McCain has been a champion of protecting the Grand Canyon.