Former Governor Mike Huckabee has acknowledged that global warming is a problem, but he has not released a comprehensive plan to address the climate crisis and our energy challenges. In interviews and on the campaign trail, though, Gov. Huckabee has expressed support for some of the most important climate policies. He has said he supports a cap-and-trade approach to curb global warming,¹ yet has not explained what that approach would look like in a Huckabee administration and generally opposes mandates.² He has placed a higher priority on energy issues than some of his Republican rivals, noting on his campaign website that the first thing he will do as president is send Congress a plan for energy independence,³ but he has not offered a detailed plan.

On various other energy policies, Gov. Huckabee’s positions are mixed. He has said he supports the recent Senate bill that increased fuel economy standards to an average of 35 mpg.⁴ However, he supports expanding a renewable electricity standard beyond clean, renewable energy sources to include “clean coal” and nuclear power.⁵ Additionally, Gov. Huckabee believes a national energy policy should also include exploring for oil and gas in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and off U.S. coasts.⁶

As governor of Arkansas, he signed into law the Arkansas Renewable Energy Development Act.⁷ The law requires electric utilities to present metering for alternative energy, which helps consumers who produce more electricity than they need get credit on their energy bills. However, like his presidential campaign, Gov. Huckabee’s tenure as governor is mixed. Early in his administration, he referred to environmental wackos” in a discussion with the Farm Bureau.⁸ Later, he opposed tighter water quality standards for the Illinois River after high levels of phosphorous from sewage, animal waste and fertilizer in northwest Arkansas were detected.⁹

In his own words

Huckabee on energy and global warming:

“The most important thing about global warming is this: Whether humans are responsible for the bulk of climate change is going to be left to the scientists, but it’s all of our responsibility to leave this planet in better shape for the future generations than we found it. It’s the old Boy Scout rule of the campsite; you leave the campsite in better shape than you found it. I believe that even our responsibility to God means that we have to be good stewards of this Earth, be good caretakers of the natural resources that don’t belong to us; we just get to use them. We have no right to abuse them.”¹⁰

On other key environmental issues, Gov. Huckabee:

Supports drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.¹¹

*Gov. Huckabee did not return LCV’s Presidential Candidate Questionnaire. Information based on public record.