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By Rob Perks
Today's Washington Post points out how China is being cast by many congressional candidates as the boogeyman of the mid-term elections. In particular, anxiety over that country's growing economic dominance has manifested itself on the campaign trail. Currently, 250 ads targeting China are being aired by both Democrats and Republicans in dozens of the most competitive races across the country.
"More than a spasm of political season piling-on, the ads underscore a broader shift in American society toward a more fearful view of China," the article notes. "Inspired by China's rise and a perceived fall in the standing of the United States, the ads have historical parallels to the American reaction to Japan in the 1980s and to the Soviet threat."
On the issue of clean energy, China seems like fair game. After all, experts agree that when it comes to that country's push to become the world's leader on renewable energy technologies, the Chinese are eating America's lunch. "It is heartbreaking to think that China would be the leader in clean-energy technology because we can't get our act together," Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said in an interview last week with historian Michael Beschloss. "If we stand on the sidelines and just complain and try to oppose whatever China is doing . . . and don't deal with our own issues at home," she added, "I don't know what the future will hold."
Throughout our nation's history, American ingenuity has been tied directly to our economic prosperity. That makes it all the more frustrating that during our country's present fiscal crisis some politicians are all too eager to thwart economic opportunities offered by clean energy jobs.
Indeed, by opposing comprehensive energy and climate legislation that could create 1.9 million jobs and help make American firms competitive in the growing global clean energy economy, some candidates are willing to set back the creation of new jobs - ensuring that other countries economies' are better positioned to capitalize on the growing clean energy sector. This means more jobs for China, which is investing in clean energy and developing expertise in clean energy technologies.
This is why NRDC Action Fund and our partner BlueGreen Alliance have launched an advertising initiative. Our nation-wide campaign this election cycle supports clean energy policies and raises awareness about their implications.
We're running ads right now against anti-environmental candidates in a number of places, including: Phil Hare (IL-17), Baron Hill (IN-9), Steve Kagan (WI-8), Mark Schauer (MI-7), Zach Space (OH-18), and Tim Walz (MN-1).
You can see a copy of the ad here.
In addition to the jobs issue, the candidates should not ignore the national security implications of climate change and how our country compares to China in this regard. The U.S. military now recognizes climate change as a security "threat multiplier" and, as a result, federal spending is being reallocated for climate security. Between FY 2008 and FY 2011 the federal climate change budget has more than doubled, from $7.4 billion to $18.1 billion. In 2008, the U.S. budgeted $94 on tools of traditional military force for every dollar spent on climate security. That ratio will narrow to $41 to $1 in the 2011 fiscal year.
This is progress, obviously. But a shift of one percent of the military budget does not come close to bringing climate security investment in line with the magnitude of the threat. China's performance in this regard is far superior. Estimates are that China spends between $2 and $3 on its military for each $1 it spends on climate. In other words, China spends one-sixth as much as the United States does on military security - and twice as much on climate security.
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