Obama and Clinton are neck-in-neck in a very hot race for presidential candidacy. But who will be the best Democrat for the planet?

According to Salon, the greatest threat to America’s future won’t be terrorist attacks or national security, it will be the effects of global warming and unrestricted greenhouse gas emissions.

So what are the Democrat candidates’ take on this issue?

Last year Hillary Clinton marked Earth Day by turning her offices and campaign carbon neutral with Native Energy (see press release); she was dubbed an “environmental champion” already back in 2006.

Recently Obama said that he would consider bringing in Al Gore as a cabinet minister. “I talk to him on a regular basis,” says Obama.

Both Democrats are obviously concerned about the environment and greenhouse gas emissions. But who’s got the better laid plan?

Those with the patience and energy can read Hillary Clinton’s plan of attack here (PDF) and Barack Obama’s here (PDF). But the Salon article offers a good recap – both candidates’ plans are pretty much identical, the magazine points out.

Each are prepared to endorse a cap-and-trade system that requires an 80 percent reduction GHG’s in the US by 2050, compared to 1990 levels.

Says Salon, “The first thing to make clear is that no president, not even a modern-day Lincoln or FDR, could possibly stop global warming even by their second term.”

Cap-and-trade is not enough, the magazine warns. The next president must also commit to:

• Appointing judges to fine big polluters.
• Appointing leaders in federal agencies.
• Embracing aggressive and broad-based technology deployment strategies to keep cap-and-trade system costs low.
• Leading utility regulators to encourage clean energy.

The point Salon brings up is not about whose plan is best. In comparison to Republican John McCain, says the article, both are good. The question is if elected, which Democrat has the clout to implement their grandiose greenhouse reduction plans.

As the old Robert Burns saying goes, “The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry.”

::Salon

For more reading on the debate, see today’s Newsweek article.