Update: Mitt Romney dropped out of the presidential race on Feb. 7, 2008.

Key PointsRepublican presidential candidate Mitt Romney isn’t convinced humans are a big contributor to climate change, but he supports efforts that would cut greenhouse-gas emissions while pushing America toward energy independence. As governor of Massachusetts from January 2003 to January 2007, he got off to a promising start on a green issues, but then repeatedly angered the state’s environmental community [PDF].

• Acknowledges that climate change seems to be happening, but says it’s unclear how much humans have contributed to the problem. Calls for policies that would boost energy independence and, as a byproduct, cut greenhouse-gas emissions.
• Says any international climate treaty would have to see all nations cutting emissions, unlike the Kyoto Protocol.
• Supports coal-to-liquid technology and calls it “clean.” Ditto with coal gasification.
• Supports expansion of nuclear power.
• Supports increased oil drilling offshore in U.S. waters.
• Supports oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
• Calls for more ethanol, biodiesel, and other biofuels.
• Calls for more energy efficiency and conservation.

Video & Audio

Watch Romney talk about energy independence and climate change on CNBC on Feb. 8, 2007:

Watch Romney answer a question about mandatory caps on carbon emissions at a town hall meeting in Iowa on May 31, 2007: