California Attorney General Brown Challenges Presidential Candidates on YouTube

Saturday, July 21, 2007
Contact: (916) 210-6000, agpressoffice@doj.ca.gov

LOS ANGELES – Former Presidential candidate and current California Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. today submitted a video question, for Monday’s YouTube/CNN Presidential Debate, calling on the Presidential candidates to explain exactly how they will “dramatically reduce the emission of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.”

Brown’s YouTube video challenge comes on the heels of a June 8th letter to each major candidate requesting support for the right of California and 11 other states to curb greenhouse gas emissions from motor vehicles.

In today’s YouTube challenge, Brown notes that “scientists warn us that the greatest threat to America and other countries is climate disruption and global warming,” and he asks the candidates “as the next president what will you do about it? How will you get this country and other nations to dramatically reduce the emission of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases?”

“Global warming is the most important long-term environmental issue facing our nation and candidates must tell us where they stand,” Brown said. “Whether or not YouTube selects this submission, each candidate--to be credible--must provide the voters with a clear and specific plan for dramatically reducing greenhouse gases, thereby forestalling a climate catastrophe.”

Brown recently testified before Congress and the United States Environmental Protection Agency to win federal approval of landmark global warming regulations that would cut greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent. These regulations become operative only upon approval by the US Environmental Protection Agency. So far, EPA has refused to act on California’s request.

Brown sent a letter to the nation’s major presidential candidates, challenging them to formally join California, Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington, in requesting EPA’s approval of the historic greenhouse gas regulations. The letter is attached.

Candidates Joe Biden, John Edwards, Barack Obama, Ron Paul and Bill Richardson joined California in formally requesting the EPA to act.

To watch Brown’s YouTube/CNN video challenge visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WHN3H5R2b5s

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PDF icon Press Letter28.93 KB
PDF icon PressReleaseForPrinting27.5 KB
PDF icon Transcript of Video11.02 KB
Binary Data global-warming.rv1.3 MB