Our Own Agenda :: Energy & Climate

A YES! Take on What Americans Want

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by Sarah van Gelder

posted Aug 11, 2008

President Barack Obama faces huge challenges as he takes office. But he's got one asset that is rarely mentioned. Large majorities of Americans agree on some of the most important issues of the day, from health care to foreign policy. “Ten Policies for a Better America” shows an agenda a majority supports—whether we vote red, blue, or some other political color.
Hover over or click on each policy button to see the YES! Take on What Americans Want. [Buy or Print poster version below.] [Link to this agenda: image downloads to spread the word]


YES! MAGAZINE GRAPHIC, 2008. Illustrations by Brandon Laufenberg/istock Click on each policy button and scroll down to see respective poll citations.



		Take a leadership role in reducing our own greenhouse gas emissions. Maximize the conservation and efficient use of existing energy supplies. Launch and fund ambitious research & development programs, offer tax credits, invest in public works projects, and focus government procurement to jump- start renewable energy deployment. Invest in public transit and intercity rail. Tax carbon; use revenues for renewables and to help ratepayers.

79%
Favor mandatory controls on greenhouse gas emissions.

76%
Believe that oil is running out
and a major effort is needed to replace it.

90%
Favor higher auto fuel efficiency standards.

75%
Favor clean electricity, even with higher rates.

72%
Support more funding for mass transit.

Sources

Index

This is without question one of the life and death challenges of our time. Fortunately, there are solutions, detailed in the YES! Climate Solutions Special Issue, Stop Global Warming Cold. Here are some of the key ones:

	Welcome to a Different Planet Editor's introduction to the YES! Climate Solutions issue. It’s going to take a mobilization like nothing we’ve seen since World War II. YES! Magazine #45, Stop Global Warming Cold

	Global Fairness We can no longer allow complaints about poor countries assuming their share of the climate burden to stymie global climate agreements. YES! Magazine #45, Stop Global Warming Cold

	How to Get Carbon-Free in 10 Years Here’s how one family, the “Jones,” did it. Lots of ideas here about how you can become a carbon-neutral family, too. YES! Magazine #45, Stop Global Warming Cold

	13 Best Energy Ideas There are good ways and not-so-good ways to take on the climate challenge. You can find both sorts here. YES! Magazine #45, Stop Global Warming Cold

Stop Global Warming Cold :: YES! Magazine Cover image, Climate Solutions Special Issue

Stop Global Warming Cold
This issue of YES! shows that solutions are within reach.

SOURCES:

ENERGY & CLIMATE

79% FAVOR MANDATORY CONTROLS ON GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS. ::
Gallup poll based on telephone interviews with 1,009 national adults, conducted Mar. 11-14, 2007. margin of sampling error is ±3 percentage points.
www.gallup.com/poll/27100/Most-Americans-Back-Curbs-Auto-Emissions-Other-Environmental-Proposals.aspx

76% BELIEVE THAT OIL IS RUNNING OUT AND A MAJOR EFFORT IS NEEDED TO REPLACE IT. ::
The poll of 14,896 respondents conducted by WorldPublicOpinion.org and managed by the Program on International Policy Attitudes (PIPA) at the University of Maryland. Interviews were conducted in 16 nations. Result above reflects the response of U.S. interviewees.
www.worldpublicopinion.org/pipa/articles/btenvironmentra/474.php?nid=&id=&pnt=474

90% FAVOR HIGHER AUTO FUEL EFFICIENCY STANDARDS. ::
72% SUPPORT MORE FUNDING FOR MASS TRANSIT. ::
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, conducted Feb. 20-24, 2008 among 1,508 adults.
http://people-press.org/reports/display.php3?ReportID=400

75% FAVOR CLEAN ELECTRICITY, EVEN WITH HIGHER RATES. ::
CBS News/New York Times Poll. April 20-24, 2007. N=1,052 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3.
www.pollingreport.com/energy.htm

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Sarah van Gelder wrote this article as part of Purple America, the Fall 2008 issue of YES! Magazine. Research by Noah Grant. Sarah is executive editor and Noah is editorial assistant at YES! Magazine.



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