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

We’re on a two-month record breaking streak.  This article from the Associated Press writes “it may be cold comfort during a frigid February, but last month was by far the hottest January ever”–and that’s supposed to make us feel good?  According to the US National Climatic Data Center in Asheville, N.C., January’s record, last set in 2002, was broken this year by .81 degrees, which is  a lot considering most records are typically only broken by hundredths of a degree.  While this was an overall worldwide warming, it was mostly the northern latitudes that influenced such a significant rise in temperature.  In fact, Siberia was on average 9 degrees warmer than usual while Canada was about 5 degrees above the average.  Overall the US was “about normal,” although we all know a 70 degree January day is far from typical in New England.

Despite these warming trends and recent studies like the IPCC report, Sen. James Inhofe, longtime global warming skeptic, is still speaking out against what he considers to be a global “hoax.”  And he’s found himself an ally.  Recently Inhofe has praised and congratulated Czech President Vaclav Klaus for speaking out against global warming: “President Klaus is to be commended for his courage in speaking not only the truth about the science behind global warming fears, but the reality of the politicization of the UN.”  Now that’s a powerful duo you don’t want to mess with.  (Read the entire story here.)

Sen. Chris Dodd was in NH yesterday, making it his second trip since he announced his candidacy for president.  “New Hampshire will give me a chance, I’ll be back here soon and often,” he said.  Dodd made a stop at the Portsmouth based Redhook Brewery where he listed his priorities, one of which was “energy and the environment.”  Great, let’s see a plan.  (Read the story from the Portsmouth Herald here.)

Al Gore has run for president, been nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize, made an Oscar-nominated documentary film, and now he’s moving on to…the music industry?  Not to worry, Gore isn’t planning an album debut (at least not that we know of), instead word has it that he is involved in planning the next series of Live 8 concerts that will be aimed at drawing attention to climate change.  Gore is expected to announce the plans today in Los Angeles, but a story in the Financial Times last week said that the concerts, seven concerts on seven continents, will likely be held in London, Shanghai, Rio de Janeiro, Cape Town, Kyoto, and Washington D.C.  Of course all concert goers will carpool and the stage lights will be compact fluorescents??  (Read the story from in the Washington Post here.)

John McCain supporters in the Granite State have been wondering where the potential presidential candidate has been.  According to this article in the Union Leader McCain’s campaign vice chair Steve Duprey told NH supporters that McCain’s absence has been due to Senate responsibilities, but his campaign has been “quietly out talking to the ativists…reaching out to old friends and making new friends.”  Duprey said McCain will be making visits, but Granite Staters shouldn’t expect to be wooed the same way they were in the 2000 campaign: “We have to make our NH supporters understand that like any other leading candidate, he can’t do 130 town meetings” as he did in ‘99 and ‘00. 

More news on Tom Vilsack’s energy plan…The Des Moines Register ran this article yesterday that gave more details on his energy plan–a plan he intends to be “his campaign’s policy centerpiece.”

Rex Tillerson, chief executive of Exxon Mobil, made his first public comments since the release of the IPCC report two weeks ago.  Tillerson warned governments not to rush into policies that “could damage the global economy in order to limit carbon emissions.”  Could there be an, umm, ulterior motive here?  Tillerson did say that “the risks to society and ecosystems from climate change could prove to be significant, so despite the uncertainties, it is prudent to develop and implement sensible strategies that address these risks.”  But, he also said “my understanding is there’s not a clear 100 percent conclusion drawn.  Nobody can conclusively 100 percent know how this is going to play out.  I think that’s important.”  That is true, and sticking to that philosophy Tillerson should light up a cigarette because no one can say with 100 percent certainty that smoking causes cancer.  (Read the entire story from the New York Times here.)

Most likely Tillerson won’t be invited to the next G-8 meeting in Northern Germany this June.  British Prime Minister Tony Blair and German Chancellor Angela Merkel said yesterday that they would push industrialized nations to take strong action to combat global warming.  The June 6-8 G-8 meeting will focus on creating a plan that will look beyond the 2012 Kyoto Protocol goals.  Hopefully unlike Tillerson, the United States will be an active participant.  (Read the entire story here.)

Yesterday Tom Vilsack pledged to make his campaign “carbon neutral,” but according to this piece apparently he’s taking it one step further annoucing a plan that would “slash carbon emissions by 75 percent by 2050.”  As prresident, Vilsack would “establish a mandatory national ‘cap and trade’ system to meet those levels, push for a 25-cent-per-gallon federal tax credit for the production of ethanol made from cellular fiber, mandate tougher standards for coal-fired power plants, and make the country’s transportation system nearly petroleum free. “  Could this be a real plan aimed at combating global warming coming from a presidential wannabe?  It sounds like a good start…

According to this opinion piece by Sen. John McCain and Sen. Joe Lieberman, we’ve finally reached “a turning point on global warming.”  The Senators are pushing for their reintroduced bill, the Climate Stewardship and Innovation Act, to “move forward in a bipartisan fashion” just as the issue of global warming needs move.  “Working in a bipartisan fashion, Congress will enact a law that curbs global warming even as it strengthens the economy.”

The new trend in Washington is to lead by “carbon-footprint” example.  Barbara Boxer is swapping light bulbs and driving hybrids, Vermont Representative Peter Welch is offsetting the carbon emissions from his two offices and his travel, and now presidential wannabe Tom Vilsack has announced that he going to be the first presidential contender in history to have a carbon neutral campaign.  Josh Earnest, communications director for Vilsack, said there is “No question that this is one of the, if not the most important issue in this presidential campaign.  It affects national security, the economy, even the health care system.'’  Will other campaigners follow in his footsteps?  We hope so.  (Read the Associated Press story here.)

In case you were unaware, which is highly unlikely with all of the media attention, Barack Obama visited the Granite State yesterday for the second time in two months.  He drew over 3,000 attendees at a “town hall” event at the University of New Hampshire.  Obama covered a variety of issues including “energy” (global warming was not mentioned in this article).  He said ”the United States should take three steps immediately: Make vehicles more fuel efficient; develop biofuels and other alternative energy sources; and set up a cap-and-trade program to regulate the amount of carbon dioxide companies can emit, but allow companies who emit less to sell credits to companies who need to emit more.”  Is he going to follow Vilsack and put his money where his mouth is?
And, we’ve added another to the list.  Today Mitt Romney officially declared his candidacy for the presidential nomination (read the story here).