The Political Climate: an ongoing commentary on the NH Primary and Climate Change

Yesterday the Supreme Court heard arguements in the case of Massachusetts vs. the Environmental Protection Agency.  Despite the efforts made by Massachusetts Assistant Attorney General James Milkey to turn the focus of the hearing away from a scientific debate, some justices continued to harp on the so-called “scientific debate” about global warming.  “We are not asking the court to pass judgment on the science of climate change,” explained Milkey.  However, Justice Antonin Scalia asked, “I mean, when is the predicted cataclysm?” and commented on the lack of scientific expertise. (Read it here in this article from Science Now and this article from the Washington Post.)

After one day the positions of each Justice seems quite clear.  Anthony M. Kennedy seems to be the key vote in what appears to be a split case.  

Earlier this week, TPC reported on empty ski slopes around the globe.  Now, snow is piling up in Colorado, but members of the ski industry still remain nervous about the looming threat that global warming poses.  This morning National Public Radio’s “Morning Edition” reported this story about professional skiers’ concerns for the future of their sport.

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger was interviewed on NBC’s “Meet the Press” Nov. 25th (view show here).  During the interview he touched on a variety of topics; however, there was one subject he continued to return to–global warming.

In response to Tim Russert’s question about whether he is now to be considered a “moderate” Republican, Schwezenegger said, “I think that if it has to do with global warming, or if it has to do with raising the minimum wage, or if it has to do with lowering prescription drugs for vulnerable citizens–all of those things are people issues, not Democratic issues or Republican issues.” 

And who will Schwarzenegger support in 2008? In California “we’re going to clean our environment and we’re going to contribute and do our share.  And I think that that is the question of this presidential race that’s coming up in 2008. Are those issues addressed?…Where are we going to  be environmentally?  Where are we going to be with our dependence on fossil fuel?  Are we going to get off fossil fuel…The key thing is that we are cleaning our environment, that we contribute to really slow down the global warming, and that we continue with our economic stimulation and creating jobs.”

On the federal government’s lack of action, Schwarzenegger said, “California–the states in the U.S. are not waiting any more for the federal government to provide leadership.  We are going off on our own.  We are providing leadership.  I think that you will see more states joining to show leadership in protecting the environment.”

This response comes at perfect the time as today is the first day of the Supreme Court case of Massachusetts vs. the Environmental Protection Agency (view this article in the New York Times).  Massachusettes, joined by 11 other states (California being one), 3 cities, and 13 environmental organizations, has filed a lawsuit against the EPA arguing that it has violated the requirements of the Clean Air Act by ignoring the harmful effects of greenhouse gases.  Echoing Schwarzenegger Massachusetts attorney general Thomas Reilly says “the federal government’s willing suspension of belief when it comes to global climate change has left it to the states to stand up and force action.”  The outcome of this case, however, may change some of that…

Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich and former North Carolina Senator John Edwards were in New Hampshire yesterday.   Neither has made a formal declaration as to whether or not they will seek the presidential nomination, but trips to the Granite State seem to point in that direction. 

Edwards, who was in Manchester promoting his book ”The Blueprints of Our Lives,” is also planning book tour stops in Iowa, Nevada and South Carolina, other important states in the early presidential election process (read the entire article about Edwards visit in today’s Union Leader).  According to the Portsmouth Herald’s article, “Candidates Woo N.H. Activists,” Edwards has been determinedly “courting” NH Democratic activist Jim Demers in hopes that Demers will sign on to promote Edwards.  “I don’t think there’s ever been a time I’ve talked to him when he hasn’t concluded by point-blank asking if I’ll sign on to his team,” said Demers; but as of right now he’s “totally uncommitted” despite many other Democratic suitors knocking at his door–Sen. Evan Bayh, Sen. Joe Biden, Sen. John Kerry, Sen. Barack Obama, and Gov. Bill Richardson.

One potential wannabe, Democratic Gov. Tom Vilsack, doesn’t have to play the courting game.  With plans to announce an official run later this week in his home town Mount Pleasant, Iowa, Vilsack, whom many are calling a “long shot” candidate, built up his credibility when political activists Gary Hirshberg, President of Stonyfield Farms in New Hampshire, and Lou Sousman, a Chicago investment banker, signed on in support of his campaign (read the entire article in the Des Moines Register).

This editorial in today’s New York Times says the 12-state lawsuit against the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is deemed to be one of the most important environmental cases in years.  The case, which will be brought in front of the Supreme Court tomorrow, argues that the EPA’s Clean Air Act has been violated by the lack of regulations on greenhouse gases.  The editorial explains “a plain reading of the Clean Air Act shows that the states are right.”  The Clean Air Act states that the EPA “shall” set standards on air pollutants that “may reasonably be anticipated to endanger public health or welfare.”  While the federal government remains passive in the fight against global warming, the editorial concludes that “the Supreme Court can strike an important blow in defense of the planet simply by ruling that the E.P.A. must start following the law.”

The green slopes of New England reflect a world-wide warm temperature pattern that is delaying what should be the beginning to the 2006/2007 ski season.  This article in the Laconia Citizen Online reports that New England ski areas have almost solely switched over to artificially made snow in order to last the entire length of a traditional ski season.  This year, however, warm temperatures throughout the state have made for poor snowmaking conditions, forcing ski areas to push their opening day from Thanksgiving weekend to December. 

This is a problem that ranges from the White Mountains to the Alps to the Rockies.  This article in the New York Times reports that a month ago the season-opening race scheduled in Solden, Austria, the host of season-opener the past 6 years, was canceled due to the melting snow off the Rettenbach glacier.  Since then World Cup races scheduled around the world have been cancelled or postponed due to mild climates and lack of snow.  Atle Skaardal, overseer of the women’s portion of the tour for the International Ski Federation, says “it will very likely be a big crisis for us if we continue canceling races in December.”