Two weeks ago while campaigning in Oregon, McCain stood amongst wind turbines to talk climate change:

Instead of idly debating the precise extent of global warming, or the precise timeline of global warming, we need to deal with the central facts of rising temperatures, rising waters, and all the endless troubles that global warming will bring. We stand warned by serious and credible scientists across the world that time is short and the dangers are great.

I agree with McCain on many levels, but what exactly are his climate change strategies beyond political rhetoric? According to Plenty Magazine, “He proposes a cap-and-trade scheme that will limit greenhouse gas emissions to sixty percent below 1990 levels by the year 2050;” however, scientists, Obama, and Clinton recommend 80 percent reductions. McCain does not favor allowing companies to buy extra carbon allowances, and he supports carbon offsetting. The problem with McCain’s ideas on climate change is he supports tax payer subsidies for nuclear power and has voted several times against a renewable energy standard.

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Whether you like it or not, we live in a corporatocracy where decisions are made in favor of short term profits in contrast to the long term effects on our environment. When we expect that our economy will perpetually grow without considering the environmental consequences of corporate decisions, we are doomed. This is what the presidential candidates should be talking about: how can we ensure a stable economy that protects the environment. The solution is green jobs.

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The State of Nevada has opposed the Yucca Mountain project since it’s inception, and now, years overdue and billions of taxpayers dollars later, it’s still at least 10 years away from completion.

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The Rainforest Alliance recently also pledged their support to the CGI, and agreed to work with two major players in the paper industry and one in the musical instrument industry.

This support will take the shape of increasing the companies use of wood from responsibly managed forestlands certified to the standards of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).

The three companies include Domtar, a North American pulp and paper company; Time Inc, one of the largest publishing companies in the world; and Gibson Musical Instruments, Inc., the leaders in musical instruments in the United States.

"As these three major players in the paper and musical instrument industries are demonstrating, large companies are taking sustainability seriously and considering the long-term environmental, social and economic implications of their purchases," said Tensie Whelan, executive director of the Rainforest Alliance, in attendance at the Clinton Global Initiative annual meeting.

"Buying wood products from FSC-certified forestlands supports responsible forest management, conserves biodiversity and curbs deforestation."

Deforestation

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, deforestation — the conversion of forested areas to non-forest land use such as arable land, pasture, urban use, logged area, or wasteland — causes 20% of global greenhouse emissions per year.

The FSC works through providing economic incentives to those biodiverse communities that would and could otherwise turn their lands in to grazing for cattle. In turn for these incentives, those areas are left — and encouraged — to grow in to stronger forests.

By using products that have been certified by the FSC, businesses can begin to shape how the rest of the world sees the importance of sustainability, and subsequently provides consumers with the ability to support such initiatives. Businesses will always have to be the front line of change, simply because governments often refuse to be.

Thankfully, ecological sustainability also happens to be good for business, and provides an incentive — sometimes the only one — for companies to get behind such projects as the FSC and CGI.

So while some members of society may often look at Bill Clinton with a sour expression — best summed up by watching the Simpsons — there is without a doubt a lot of good that he is doing. Let us hope that that good continues well in to the future, and continues to reap results such as these.

Rainforest Alliance - Rainforest Alliance, Gibson, Domtar and Time Inc. Commit… via ENN - Rainforest Alliance, Gibson, Domtar and Time Inc. Commit…

Environment News Service - Billions Committed for Environment at Clinton Global Initiative

Rainforest Alliance

Clinton Global Initiative

Photo - Deforestation for agriculture in Benambra, Australia