Key Enviornmental Positions

By Mike Martini

1) Offshore Oil drilling: Oppose; 2) Drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Reserve: Oppose; 3) Kyoto - international agreement and protocols for reducing Greenhouse Gas emissions: Support

Besides the local environmental impact, the Global Warming impact of burning more oil is unacceptable. We have more oil in already identified oil reserves than we can afford to burn. The cost of mitigating the global warming impacts of just burning what we have already tapped is excessive. There is no economic need for the oil, and the local environmental impact is intolerable.

2) Drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Reserve: Oppose

It is completely unwarranted to even consider disturbing the Reserve. We simply don't need the oil. We would be very unwise to tap it, and even more unwise to burn it.

3) Kyoto - International Agreement and protocols for reducing Greenhouse Gas emissions: Support

The U.S. should sign it immediately. As the world's single worst contributor of the Greenhouse Gases, which are causing global warming, The U.S. must lead by example on CO2 reductions. We must also sign on to Kyoto in response to our allies in Europe, who are near unanimous in their calls for the U.S. to sign on to Kyoto.

4) CAFÉ standards and the new fuel cell initiative for the "FreedomCAR": Support

The FreedomCAR project is an excellent idea, and I support it. However, there is no need to abandon improved CAFÉ standards in the meantime. There is no excuse for treating SUVs as light trucks, thereby effectively excluding them from the fleet mileage targets. We absolutely must improve the mileage of the existing fleet while we are developing fuel cell cars. Also, I would take the program one step further. I would place a tax on oil at the dock, and use the revenues to create the hydrogen distribution infrastructure, which will be needed when the cars are ready to replace gasoline-powered cars.

5) Climate Protection Campaign and ICLEI: Support

They are positive and responsible initiatives that local government can take to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

6) Sustainable forest practices and timber management: Support

There is no excuse for any forest practices, which are not sustainable. Timber harvest rates cannot exceed timber regeneration rates. And timber-harvesting practices cannot destroy valuable habitats. There is no need to either exceed regeneration rates or destroy habitats. We can and should do much better than we are now.

7) Biodiversity: Support

Obviously, we have to take the steps necessary to maintain biodiversity. Key right now is that we accelerate the research so we can know when to act, where to act, and in what fashion.

8) Urban Sprawl: Oppose

Conventional sprawl patterns of development create major negative environmental impacts. I am working with key players to make sure we become leaders in demonstrating the viability of alternatives, i.e. mixed-use patterns in already urbanized areas and in our downtowns. Other areas that have not yet established Urban Boundaries like Santa Rosa has... must be encouraged to do so sooner rather than later.