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

Last Thursday, the Boston Globe ran one in a series of articles about energy use in Japan. Japan serves as a rebuttal to critics who say that the steps necessary to seriously address our national energy use will harm the US economy. Japan has the second-largest economy in the word, has a per-capita income relatively equal to that of the US, yet consumes about 1/2 the amount of energy per-capita that we do. Now there are reasons why Japan is compelled to address energy use beyond being a good world citizen. For instance, it imports nearly all its oil. But the fact remains that through innovation and an emerging culture that embraces conservation and efficiency, the Japanese enjoy a high standard of living while consuming much less energy.

Clearly, differences between US and Japanese cultures necessitate a difference in the details of energy policy. The lesson, though, is that this can be done without significantly harming our economy or damaging our standard of living as long as we embrace reduced energy use as a worthy societal goal. To this end, the NH State Legislature is considering a number of bills aimed at increasing use of renewables and/or reducing carbon output. Foster’s has the story.

Meanwhile, Sen. McCain seems to be reaping the benefits from the Straight Talk Express’ tour of the state. Sen. McCain seems to be giving a ”climate change is real, now bear with me…” nod to global warming. This assumes that the assembled crowd is populated with skeptics. According to this poll, this assumption is not necessarily true. Remember, Sen. Jim Inhofe is not the official voice of Republicans on climate change.

Last weekend Sen. John McCain told a packed crowd at the Exeter Town Hall that in this campaign he plans to treat NH the same way he did during his last presidential go-around, and with a return trip to the state this weekend, it appears he is true to his word.  During McCain’s last trip he told Granite Staters that he believes climate change is real and needs to be addressed, and he pointed to ethanol and nuclear power as great alternatives.  This weekend maybe he’ll elaborate.  Maybe he’ll even show up wearing the Carbon Coalition pin he was given last weekend–that would certainly get the attention of many.  McCain will be in Franklin, Littleton, Plymouth, and Conway.  See his entire schedule here.

Congressman Duncan Hunter will also be in the state this weekend.  According to www.heatison.org, little is known about where global warming fits on Hunter’s agenda.  With stops in Keene, Somersworth, and Concord there’s plenty of opportunity to find out.  See his schedule here.

In other news, according to this NY Times article, top scientists are reporting that sea level rise and polar ice-sheet melt are at the upper limits of projections.  John Church, a scientist with Australia’s CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research, said “I feel that we’re getting uncomfortable close to threshold.”  With 100 million people living within a meter of present-day sea level, and with the Antarctic Peninsula warming faster than anywhere else on earth, this should set off some alarms.  The article says “doomsday has not yet arrived,” and it might be worth asking McCain and Hunter if they have a plan to keep it that way.

The Clinton-Obama political drama–from the YouTube scandal to the public bashes and then apologies–is already getting old, and this is only the beginning.  Leave the celeb-feuds to the gossip magazine elite and instead focus on the issues.  Take yesterday’s hearing with Al Gore for example.  Sen. Hillary Clinton took advantage of time spent with a leader in the fight against global warming, asking Gore if he would favor a tax on carbon emissions over a cap on emissions.  Gore responded that he would be in favor of both.  Thanks Hillary, that’s a better use of your time.  So was agreeing with Obama and co-sponsoring John McCain’s and Joe Lieberman’s Climate Stewardship and Innovation Act of 2007.  Furthermore, if you really want to show one another up, do it in a way that at least gets you public kudos.  Carl Pope, Executive Director of the Sierra Club, put it perfectly in this blog entry.  He wrote that based on the NH Town Meeting results, it is clear that Granite Staters want to see action on climate change.  “And a few days ago, John Edwards was the first presidential candidate to respond to the message…It’s great to see someone lead the way, and now the ball is the courts of the Clinton, McCain, Giuliani, Obama, Richardson and Romney campaigns. Come on in folks - the water is fine!”

Of course, you could also follow Chris Dodd’s lead and endorse the Climate Change Resolution.

In the last few weeks criticism about Mitt Romney has ranged from his religion to his “too perfect” hair.  Hopefully to most voters some of these issues will weigh heavier than others, and to TPC one such issue tips the scale.  Someone needs to send Romney the memo that global warming is a non-partisan issue–it’s moral, global and affects us all, not just one political party.  Last month he criticized fellow Republicans for “embracing the radical environmental ideas of the liberal left.”  Again, someone should inform Romney that these “ideas” are actually coming from a majority of renowned scientists and organizations worldwide.  Romney continued “Republicans should never abandon pro-growth conservative principles in an effort to embrace the ideas of Al Gore.” Romney’s spokesperson said that he is all for reducing our dependence on foreign oil and creating incentives for renawbles and energy conservation but “is not sure how much” human activity is contributing to climate change.  Romney, your hair can be fixed, but until you acknowledge the threat of global warming (and we want to hear you say it) the majority of voters (according to this recent poll) will definitely hold it against you.  (Read the entire story here.)

Sen. John Edwards seems to have the opposite problem as Romney these days.  Yesterday he announced an energy plan to “halt global warming and create a new energy economy.”  Edwards is giving specifics: reducing emissions with a cap-and-trade system by 15% by 2020 and 80% by 2050, leading the world to a new climate treaty, creating an energy fund, and meeting the increasing electricity demand through efficiency.  He’s also put his money where his mouth is by pledging to have a carbon neutral campaign.  But let’s be honest, this YouTube video of Edwards primping before a candidate event creates some serious concern–between prepping and talking will he have any extra time to address these issues?

Nothing in The Political Climate or Carbon Coalition communications is meant to imply an endorsement of any candidate or political party.