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

The European Union is set to support targets aimed to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent by 2020 (approximately reaching 1990 levels).  On Tuesday European Union ministers met in Brussels to come to a consensus for a plan they will propose at the March 8-9 summit meeting for the 27-bloc European Union meeting.  At the meeting in March a final decision will be made about the EU’s climate change and energy strategy.   Stravos Dimas, Environment Commissioner for the EU, said “I’m very encouraged by the fact that all member states strongly supported our proposal and the need for the EU to continue its leadership in fighting climate change.”  Another facet of the plan would be to call for industrialized countries to reduce their emissions by 30 percent–a goal the EU would aim for if other rich countries such as the US participated.  (Read the entire story from Reuters here.)

The odd winter season we’ve had this year hasn’t only hurt business owners in the North Country.  This article from the Portsmouth Herald reports that last weekend twenty loons were found frozen and stranded on Lake Winnipesaukee, NH.  Most were dead.  Usually loons leave land lakes before they freeze over, but this season the warm temperatures and open water likely confused the birds.  Harry Vogel, executive director for the Loon Preservation Committee, said “I’m a little bit worried that loons are finding it hard to cope with all of these changes.”