While partisan politics may be interfering with proper analysis of the science behind global warming, it’s clear that neither party is willing to let anything stand in the way of greening up their conventions this election season—including fried food. 

That’s right: the Democrats have urged local restaurants to steer clear of unhealthy and environmentally unfriendly foods during their convention stay in Denver. The Republican response: the Democratic effort is "elitist and out of touch." The Republicans, for their part, aim to continue the conservationist tradition begun by Theodore Roosevelt by slashing paper and energy use, and holding the convention in an energy-efficient building. 

There’s really no end to the green cred one-upsmanship this year: the Republicans are using bicycles, the Democrats are buying carbon offsets. The Republicans are using biodegradable banners, the Democrats are recycling theirs into handbags. 

So who ultimately gets the win? Anyone concerned about the environment. Regardless of which party actually cuts the most carbon at their yearly fiesta, energy is being saved at both, setting a powerful precedent that I hope organizers of other national-level events will feel compelled to follow.