On the heels of last week's Republican National Convention—during which the GOP unveiled its official party platform—the Democrats approved their party's platform at their own convention, which is in full swing in Charlotte, North Carolina. And the party of President Barack Obama retains its focus on key science issues, such as climate change and alternative energy, basic research funding, and math and science education, touting its victories on the science policy front while downplaying the failures.
Our friends at ScienceInsider combed through the 70-page document and offered these science policy highlights:
Tough on climate change, not cap and trade
The Democrats appear to remain resolute on curbing climate change, but they've apparently abandoned the idea of instituting a cap-and-trade system for carbon emissions, likely because a bill that would have established such a scheme was killed in the Senate 2 years ago. The 2012 platform instead focuses on...
Reverse brain drain
The platform also voices support for immigration policy that encourages foreign college students studying science to stay in the United States after completing their degrees to work in high-tech industries. "To make this country a destination for global talent and ingenuity, we won't deport deserving young people who are Americans in every way but on paper," the Democrats state, "and we will work to make it possible for foreign students earning advanced degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics to stay and help create jobs here at home."
Sticking with all-of-the-above energy
During his first term, Obama has employed what he calls an "all-of-the-above" approach to energy policy, focusing on developing new alternative and renewable energy sources and increasing energy efficiency while continuing to expand the nation's production of fossil fuels. The 2012 platform touts the progress the Obama Administration has made on the energy front, citing the growth in wind and solar power, increases in automobile fuel efficiency standards, a reduction in the country's dependence on foreign oil, and the boom in natural gas extraction. Whereas the 2008 platform envisioned getting "at least 25 percent of our electricity from renewable sources by 2025," the 2012 platform shifts that goalpost, citing a "goal of generating 80 percent of our electricity from clean energy sources”—which can include natural gas and clean coal—"by 2035."
For an in-depth look back at Barack Obama's performance in the science policy arena during his first term as president, check back with The Scientist in October.
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