The Kyoto Protocols and Greenhouse Gases

Summary

•While in the State Legislature of Illinois, Barack Obama voted in favor of Coal-Industry sponsored resolution condemning Kyoto Protocols
• As a U.S. Senator, Barack Obama has become a forceful spokesman on behalf of legislation intended to prevent catastrophic climate change.

Summary

• Together with every one of his Senate colleagues who voted that day, including then Vice-President Al Gore, John McCain voted to oppose U.S. ratification of the Kyoto Protocols

• Now a believer in climate change, John McCain pursues legislative remedies to avert climate change, but with caveats. Any climate-change treaty the U.S. enters into must also include China and India.

"Aye."
[1]

"I don't believe that climate change is just an issue that's convenient to bring up during a campaign. I believe it's one of the greatest moral challenges of our generation. "
[2]

"Aye."
[1]

"I believe America is going to enter into negotiations to try to reach a global agreement (on greenhouse gases). But, as I said, that agreement must include India and China, two of the emerging economies of the world. We would be foolish not to do so."
[2]

[1]
May 1998
Springfield, IL
Vote by Barack Obama in Illinois State Legislature In Support of State Coal Industry-Sponsored Bill Condemning Kyoto Protocols

[2]
October 14, 2007
Des Moines, IA
Campaign Speech

Link to Source

[1]
July 25, 1997
Washington, D.C.
Vote by John McCain in the U.S. Senate in Favor of the Byrd-Hagel Resolution, Which Stated that the Sense of the Senate was that the United States Should Not Become a Signatory to the Kyoto Protocol

Link to Source

[2]
February 11, 2008
Interview with Spiegel Magazine