Top Five Environmental Issues of the 2012 Election

Environmental issues and politics are as closely linked as bee is to a flower. Caring for "Mother Earth" is not necessarily a partisan issue, but it is woven into candidate speeches each election cycle. Eventually the debt ceiling debate will be settled and the focus will return to the candidates vying to become the next Commander in Chief.

By November 2012 thousands of hours will have been spent dissecting speeches, sound bites and campaign literature by eco-minded Americans searching for a president to represent their view on the preservation of natural resources.

Clean Energy

The energy industry and candidates are currently focusing on ways to provide jobs and affordable energy services to Americans. Reducing the reliance of foreign oil, the hydraulic "fracking" process, solar power and the environmental impact of coal mining have long been issues addressed by members of both political parties. A candidate's opinion on Utica shale is likely to depend on political party affiliation and may be a determining factor in who eco-minded voters select at the ballot box.

Climate Change

Whether candidates refer to the issue a global warming or climate change, concerns over greenhouse gases and drastic weather pattern changes remains. Candidates will be expected to answer questions concerning threatened ecosystems, promoting lifestyle changes, grant funding and technological advancements which can be used to detect environmental abnormalities.

Water Quality

The quality of global drinking water and laws governing ballast discharge in American waterways is at the top of the discussion list for many environmentalists. The inefficiency and high cost of the desalinization process will likely be debated among both liberals and conservatives.

Biofuel Technology

Once again reducing American reliance on foreign oil and developing an Earth-friendly alternative to fossil fuels will be front and center during political debates. Decades of debate and millions of dollars in taxpayer funded grants have been thrown at the problem since the Carter administration, yet no significant changes have materialized. Investing in private companies and research to further advancements in biofuel, battery, electric and solar powered vehicles will be a hot topic on the campaign trail for both liberals and conservatives.

Waste and Consumption

Gluttony remains a problem in the United States. America is one of the largest consumers of plastic in the world despite advocacy group initiatives and grant funded recycling programs. While progress has been made, there is still a long road ahead in attempting to correct the "everything is disposable" mindset in America. The one positive stemming from the economic downtown is the willingness to garner extra cash by recycling, participation in clothing swaps, and "upcycling" seemingly useless items into something new. "Green" business practices have improved across the nation, which is a good sign that consumer habits are changing.