Earth Tones

The environment has always been a pet issue for Democratic presidential candidate Al Gore. His opponent, Republican George W. Bush, has his own ideas on how to treat the Earth. Here are some of their proposals and stances.

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ENVIRONMENT

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OVERVIEW

AL GORE

Promotes continuing, and stepping up, the Clinton administration’s environmental policies. Proposes spending $148 billion over 10 years for cleaner energy and environment.

GEORGE W. BUSH

Says the federal model of “mandate, regulate and litigate” encourages only minimum compliance with environmental laws. Also criticizes the federal government for not complying with its own regulations. Would promote shifting regulatory powers to the states.

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GLOBAL WARMING

AL GORE

Supports U.S. ratification of the Kyoto Protocol, a 1997 treaty he helped negotiate that would force industrial nations to reduce their greenhouse-gas emissions.

GEORGE W. BUSH

Opposes the Kyoto Protocol because it is ineffective, inadequate and unfair to America. Agrees, however, that the global climate is getting warmer and proposes continued research into the causes and development of technologies to reduce emissions.

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OIL DRILLING

AL GORE

Favors a ban on all new oil and gas drilling in waters off California and Florida. Opposes exploration in the protected Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska.

GEORGE W. BUSH

Supports limited moratorium on drilling off California and Florida, but backs environmentally responsible exploration for oil in the Arctic refuge and in the Gulf of Mexico near Louisiana and Texas.

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ENERGY EFFICIENCY

AL GORE

Would offer tax credits up to $6,000 for motorists who buy cleaner vehicles, $2,000 credits for buying new energy-efficient homes and $1,000 credits to make existing homes more energy efficient.

GEORGE W. BUSH

Would offer tax breaks for electricity produced from alternative fuels. Would fund research into cleaner coal burning.

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CONTAMINATED SITES

AL GORE

Calls for more funding to help companies clean up contaminated waste sites, such as abandoned factories, in urban areas. Would allow state and local governments to float bonds to pay for cleanup of such “brownfields.”

GEORGE W. BUSH

Supports flexible cleanup standards and financial support to speed up rehabilitation and development of brownfields.

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NATIONAL PARKS

AL GORE

Proposes spending $2 billion over 10 years to set aside more parkland.

GEORGE W. BUSH

Proposes spending $5 billion over 5 years to reverse the neglect of park maintenance.

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BREACHING DAMS

AL GORE

Has not taken a position on whether dams in the Northwest should be breached to protect salmon spawning grounds. Proposes holding a “summit” with landowners, environmentalists, power companies and others to find a solution.

GEORGE W. BUSH

Sees no need to breach the Snake River dams because they are vital to jobs and farming in the region. Instead, promises $20 million to restore salmon runs.

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Sources: Candidates’ Web sites, National Journal