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Global warming, climate change, iceberg,

Source: (Photo by Torsten Blackwood – Pool/Getty Images)

Everyone who has a common interest in Mother Earth is aware of Earth Day and more than likely hip to the strained relationship between politics and climate control.

On the global holiday this year, President Barack Obama spoke about the importance of acknowledging climate change during his speech in the Florida Everglades Wednesday. In a special video, he also mentioned a few of his environmental accolades, making an important point that the problem of climate change will continue far past his presidency.

Obama even revealed his proposal to dedicate $70 million to protect the Everglades this year. With this move, climate change has yet again become a huge topic that many are expecting the 2016 presidential candidates to address.

While some of the candidates have made efforts to cut back on carbon pollution and discussed how to mitigate it, others have called it a hoax and an urban legend.

Here’s what some of the possible and confirmed 2016 candidates have to say about climate control.

Hillary Clinton

Source: (Photo by Yana Paskova/Getty Images)

Hillary Clinton 

Status: Running 

– During her speech at the League of Conservative Voters, Clinton stood by President Obama’s Clean Power Plan to control carbon emissions from power plants.

– Her willingness to side with Obama reportedly has the left-wing worried, since climate change isn’t their main platform for 2016.

– In the past, Clinton’s organizations have accepted money from ExxonMobil and ConocoPhillips, raising eyebrows among voters. Since the money is given away and not put into her campaign, some believe biting the bullet for the sake of donations doesn’t hurt Hillary’s chances with environmentalists.

Score: 3 out of 5 oak trees 

Marco Rubio

Source: (Photo by Larry Marano/FilmMagic) / Getty

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.)

Status: Running 

–  Speaking on Face the Nation Sunday, Rubio says human activity has nothing to do with climate change.

– He also believes the United States should not be acting alone–just months after Obama launched a plan with China to reduce carbon reductions by 2025.

– He repeatedly believes that people talking about climate change are making it worse than it is, thereby falling into the pits of conspiracy theorist.

Score: 2 out of 5 palm trees

Ted Cruz

Source: Getty

Ted Cruz (R-TX)

Status: Running 

– Cruz has made it clear he doesn’t believe in climate change, but also says he isn’t a “denier.”

– He’s also stated that scientists haven’t proved a significant amount of global warming in 17 years. It was later revealed his facts of satellite data dated back to 1998.

Score: 1 out of 5 dandelions 

Rand Paul (R-KY)

Status: Running 

– Paul believes man-made greenhouse-gas emissions are destroying the environment, and has also stated plans to cut air pollution.

– Believes Obama’s spending on programs to fight global warning is “an assault to our economy.”

– His middling stance could hurt his chances. In January, Paul voted “yes” on an amendment confirming the existence of climate change. Rubio and Cruz voted “no.”

3 out of 5 conifer cones

Ben Carson

Source: (Photo by Richard Ellis/Getty Images)

Ben Carson (MD) 

Status: Potential Candidate 

– In an interview in Iowa in November 2014, Carson claimed global warming is irrelevant.

– He also supports the controversial Keystone XL pipeline, calling it “perfectly safe.”

Score: 1 out of 5 beech leaves

Jeb Bush

Source: (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

Jeb Bush

Status: Potential Candidate 

– You can soak in Bush’s views or avoidance on climate change above.

Score: 1/2 out of 5 four leaf clovers 

Scott Walker

Source: Getty Images

Scott Walker (Gov. WI)

Status: Potential Candidate 

– Backed by the Koch family, Walker signed the “No Climate Tax Pledge” in 2013, meaning tax cuts would need to be put in order if a legislation for climate change was introduced.

– Walker has been one of the key figures in shooting down Obama’s climate policies. Critics believe Wisconsin’s coal-powered plants would be in jeopardy.

– This week, Walker handed out pink slips to 57 environmental agency employees from the state’s Department of Natural Resource after citing budget cuts.

Score: 5 out of 5 cactuses 

Chris Christie Sworn In For Second Term As Governor Of New Jersey

Source: Jeff Zelevansky / Getty

Chris Christie (Gov. of NJ)

Status: Potential Candidate 

– Christie’s decision to pull New Jersey out of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) proved to be a win for the right, but a loss for his environmental supporters. The RGGI, which supports the reduction of global warming, is a cap-and-trade system the state was part of since 2005.

– Christie does believe global warming is partially man-made.

2 out of 5 red oak trees 

Mike Huckabee

Source: Getty Images

Mike Huckabee 

Status: Potential Candidate 

– Once a supporter of cap-and-trade, Huckabee denied all claims regarding climate change, but the video above from his 2007 speech at the Clean Air Cool Planet conference proved otherwise.

Score: 1 out of 5 evergreen leaves 

Rick Santorum

Source: Getty Images

Rick Santorum 

Status: Potential Candidate 

– During his political run in 2012, Santorum called the science of man-made climate change “bogus” and global warming “a hoax.”

– He then introduced religious language, citing that Obama’s plans weren’t theologies based on the Bible.

– While he’s interested in doing something about climate change, Santorum believes nothing will actually make a difference.

Score: 2 out of 5 cornus floridas

PHOTO CREDIT: Getty 

SEE ALSO:

She’s Ready! Hillary Clinton Announces 2016 Presidential Bid [VIDEO]

Will He Run? Ben Carson Set To Address Presidential Plans In May 4 Announcement 

It’s Getting Hot In Here: Where Do The 2016 Presidential Candidates Stand On Climate Change?  was originally published on newsone.com