Oceanography 101 Homework: Climate Science and Political Candidates

This homework assignment for Oceanography 101 focuses on the climate and ocean science policies of four US presidential candidates. The assignment requires students to research and summarize each candidate's background, job experience, and specific policies related to climate and ocean science, including their stances on issues like renewable energy, carbon emissions, and environmental conservation. Additionally, the assignment includes a letter to the next US president advocating for environmental protection and a brief analysis of a House of Representatives member's climate-related actions. The candidates discussed are Amy Klobuchar, Cory Booker, Joe Biden, and William Weld. The assignment emphasizes the importance of scientific knowledge in informing policy decisions related to climate change, waste management, and ocean acidification. The assignment includes cited sources such as journal articles and reports.

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Name
Tutor
Institution
Date of Submission
OCEANOGRAPHY
Part A:
Candidate 1
i) Candidate’s name
Amy Klobuchar (Democratic Party)
ii) Candidate job experience
Klobuchar studied political science and law. She ventured into practicing law and in 1988, she
was elected as attorney for Hennepin County. In 2006, she was elected the first female Senator
for Minnesota, the position she holds to date (John 9).
iii) Policies related to ocean and climate science
Klobuchar supports the Green New Deal. He has proposed major investment in climate research
and innovation, better greener transportation, greener jobs and infrastructure, and environmental
justice programs. She hopes to achieve 100% net-zero emission by 2050 (John 9). Also, she
hopes to bring to an end the censored climate science programs established by President Trump.
Additionally, she will reestablish the abolished National Climate Assessment Advisory
Committee by Trump to address climate crisis.
Candidate 2
i) Candidate’s name:
Cory Broker (Democratic Party)
ii) Candidate job experience:

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He started his political career as City Council of Newark Central Ward in 1998. He was later
elected as a Mayor of Newark and currently as US Senator of New Jersey since 2013 (John 4).
He studied law, political science, has a master’s degree in sociology.
iii) Policies related to ocean and climate science
Brooker has introduced a climate plan that aims at creating a clean environment through
transition to clean energy. In line with the Paris climate agreement, he hopes to shift the entire
economy to be carbon-neutral by 2045. Also, he proposes vehicles to use electric energy as a
strategy to achieve 100% carbon-free electricity by 2030 (John 4). He is also calling for
restoration of wetlands and forestry through reinstatement of the Civilian Conservation Corps.
Candidate 3
i) Candidate’s name
Joe Biden (Democratic Party)
ii) Candidate job experience
Biden studied history and political science later studied law. He practiced law before he was
elected in 1970 as a member of the New Castle County Council. In 1972 he won the senatorial
seat for Delaware, the seat he held up to 2008 (John 3). He later became the 47th US Vice
President in 2008.
iii) Policies related to ocean and climate science
Biden endorses the Green New Deal policy that aims at ensuring cleaner water and air, less
climate pollution, reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, and renewable energy. He proposes a
tight mechanism whereby the polluters will bear the consequences of carbon pollution. He,
therefore, calls for the Congress to pass an emission limit that will aim at reducing carbon
emissions (John 3). His climate plan aims by 2050 to have net zero greenhouse gas emissions.
Candidate 4 name
i) Candidate’s name
William Weld (Republican Party)

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ii) Candidate job experience
Weld studied Classics later law. He started as a clerk for the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial
Court before venturing into practicing law. He served as US attorney for Massachusetts in 1981.
In 1990, he became the first Republican governor for Massachusetts (NRDC 11). He has run
unsuccessfully for a Senatorial and vice president seat.
iii) Policies related to ocean and climate science
Although Weld does not have any climate plans, he believes that there is a need for
environmental conservation and conservatism. He endorses rejoining of the Paris climate accords
that aims to create a clean environment. He proposes to put mechanisms into place that will
protect the oceans, damns, streams and rivers, valleys, canyons, and mountains (Mossler et al.
66). He intends to fight climate change, global warming, and protect coastlines.
Part B
Letter to the next US president
October 3, 2019
The President
The White House
1600 Pennsylvanis Avenue
Washington, D.C. 20500
Dear Mr. President
I am a student undertaking a degree in ocean science and am alarmed by the threats facing the
US climate. I am particularly concerned about waste and contamination flowing to our oceans,
ocean acidification, and global warming. Implementation of environmental conservation
strategies such as use of renewable energy, reduction in carbon emissions, use of electric
vehicles, and avoidance of fossil fuel production can significantly improve the marine life and
result into a cleaner nation. Ocean and climate pollution has made me develop health problems. I
believe, if your government puts these precautionary measures into effect, the overall livelihood

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of citizens will improve. My health and that of my family will improve, community will live in a
conducive environment, animals, plants, and marine life will be enhanced, and entire planet will
be a better place. With the knowledge I have acquired from my course, I believe if given an
opportunity to be part of your administration as a climate and ocean science policy advisor, we
can together solve these problems and create a cleaner ocean life.
Sincerely,
Name
Part C
i) Candidate’s name
Allan Lowenthal (House of Representatives)
ii) Candidate job experience
Lowenthal is a Congressman representing California’s 47th District since 2013. He has served in
California State senate, California State Assembly, and as a member of the Long Beach City
Council from 1969. He has a B.A and Ph.D. from Ohio State University.
iii) Policies related to ocean and climate science
Lowenthal has steered legislations aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. For instance,
reduction in air pollution arising from ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles (Giuliano 2). He
introduced the H.R. 6059 bipartisan bill that oversees transparency in use of public lands. Also,
he engages in raising awareness for clean environment and generation of renewable energy.

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Works cited
Boykoff, Maxwell, Jennifer Katzung, and Ami Nacu-Schmidt. "Media and Climate Change
Observatory Monthly Summary: The Earth is facing a climate change Deadline-Issue 26,
February 2019." (2019): 1-8.
Giuliano, Genevieve, et al. "Evaluation of extended gate operations at the ports of Los Angeles
and long beach Metrans project 05." (2008): 1-7.
John, Cushman. Debate 2020: The Candidates' Climate Positions & What They've Actually
Done. (2019: 1-12. Accessed June 24, 2019 from file:///C:/Users/FAI/Downloads/best
%20climate.html
Mossler, Max V., et al. "How does framing affect policy support for emissions mitigation?
Testing the effects of ocean acidification and other carbon emissions frames." Global
environmental change 45 (2017): 63-78.
NRDC Action Fund. Climate Change and the 2020 Presidential Candidates: Where Do They
Stand? (2019): 1-9. Accessed February 22, 2019 from
https://www.nrdcactionfund.org/climate-change-and-the-2020-presidential-candidates-
where-do-they-stand/