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

The Chicago Council on Global Affairs and WorldPublicOpinion.org conducted a world-wide survey on climate change.  In the 17 countries polled, representing more than 55% of the world’s total population, the majority of the 20,000 survey participants view global warming as a critical threat. The results from the United States, however, did not match the overall international opinion.  In the US 46% said global warming is critical, while 4 in 10 said it is “an important but not critical threat.”  Steven Kull, an editor at WorldPublicOpinion.org , said that overall the results are “quite phenomenal…if you think about the fact that just two decades ago, hardly anyone knew what climate change or global warming was, and now you have people all around the world–even in developing countries–really absorbing that there is something to address.”

Interestingly, according a different poll Granite Staters’ views on global warming match that of the international community and not their fellow Americans.  This poll, recently conducted by the Mellman Group, found that the majority of likely Democratic and Republican primary voters in New Hampshire see global warming as a serious threat that requires immediate action.  The participants viewing global warming as a “serious threat”–94% of Democratic and 70% of Republican voters–are well above the 46% reported to be the overall American opinion.

In fact, thanks to the hard work of over 300 Carbon Coalition volunteers, the results from yesterday’s Town Meetings only strengthen the polling figures, demonstrating Granite Staters commitment to fight global warming.   86 out of the 93 towns that held Town Meeting yesterday passed the Climate Change Resolution.  That seems like a pretty clear message.

Stay tuned throughout this week for more Town Meeting results.

Colorado Congressman Tom Tancredo was in the Granite State this weekend, and this blogger had the opportunity to hear him speak in Somersworth on Saturday.  During his 45 minutes at the Gateway Restaurant he covered two topics in depth–immigration and American Patriotism.  I was only able to hear his views on global warming when I grabbed him for a couple of minutes on his way out the door.  

On Patriotism: Tancredo believes we need a leader who can “reinvigorate the discussion” about American pride, and remind people that we live in “the greatest country in the world”–a mindset that is lost on younger generations he said. 

On immigration: We need to stop illegal immigration, “we can’t just have a ‘virtual fence,’” (between the US and Mexico) but we need to take advantage of technology and construct a real fence.

On global warming:  I asked Tancredo how he plans to address the issue of global warming, and his immediate response, as his eyes opened wide, was that he didn’t really have the time to get into such an issue.  But in the our brief exchange, I was quickly convinced that Tancredo has a lot to learn about climate change.  He’s ”not sure” or convinced that the science is sound about human induced warming.  There may be a correlation, but he can’t believe one report (the IPCC report to be specific) over “all the others that are constantly put on his desk.”  He’s “all for” less pollution and alternatives to our dependence on foreign oils.  In fact, he believes this could help create jobs (fyi: he’s also for drilling in ANWR).  The conversation ended when I asked him if he would support a national policy requiring the reductions of greenhouse gas emissions.  “No, I would not support that.” 

Well, here’s what I think. 

On patriotism: If Tancredo wants younger generations to start taking pride in America, then America needs to start looking out for their future.  Without a national policy requiring greenhouse gas reductions, we’re willingly leaving our children a much different country.  New Hampshire alone is losing the qualities that Granite Staters take pride in–four seasons, skiing, maple syrup.  Will America be great with shrinking shore lines, rising health problems, sweltering heat waves?

Sporting a “Stop Global Warming” bracelet, Sen. John Edwards spoke about climate change to college students at a rally on the Auraria campus in Denver, Colorado.  He told the students ”this is going to be the most controversial thing that I say, but I’m going to say it anyway. We need a national cap on CO2 pollution, and we need to show the rest of the world what can be done with clean, renewable energy like wind, solar, biomass and biofuels.”  Controversial or level-headed?  (Read the whole story from Itsgettinghotinhere.org.)

Granite Staters better gear up, because for the next couple of weeks  New Hampshire will be bombarded by presidential wannabes.  Here’s who’s coming, and here’s what they’re saying about global warming:

Congressman Tom Tancredo will be in the state this weekend, making stops in Somersworth and Hampton.  Tancredo isn’t saying much (or anything) about global warming, but according to his webpage his views on energy independence and “affordable energy” have a lot to do with drilling in ANWR and nothing to do with investing in renewables.   

Sen. Hillary Clinton will also be in the state this weekend.  She is the guest speaker at the NH Democratic Party’s annual “100 Club” dinner in Nashua.  On the issue of global warming: “to me, the new report reinforces what I have believed for a number of years now: we know enough to know that it is time to act. We need to start on a path to slow, stop and reverse the growth of greenhouse gas emissions. It will require moving to new energy technology solutions. This is a daunting task. But I believe that inaction is the riskier course to both our environment and our economy. The longer we wait, the harder the transformation required by this challenge will become.” (Read more about Clinton’s views on climate change here.)

Gov. Mike Huckabee, who’s said “we’ve done a lousy job of really taking care of” global warming, is expected to visit the Granite State on the 14th.  Next weekend Sen. Barack Obama will make his second visit since declaring his candidacy.  Sen. John McCain will be in Bedford, Newport, Milford, and Exeter next weekend.  He recently met with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to talk about global warming, and he said he “would assess this administration’s record on global warming as terrible.”  Read all of the candidate’s views at www.heatison.org.

Sen. Hillary Clinton is feeling the love from Granite Staters.  Yesterday NH House Majority Leader Mary Jane Wallner announced her endorsement of Clinton, calling her “a role model.”  The country “is really ready for a woman president,” Wallner said. But more importantly, she added, Clinton “is the most qualified of the candidates.  She has the experience and wisdom to lead this country.”  Sarah Nolan, Gov. John Lynch’s former campaign finance director, has also jumped on the Hillary wagon as Clinton’s Clinton’s NH political director. (Read more from the Union Leader here and here.)  Clinton will be in the state this weekend as the guest speaker at a sold-out 100 Club Fundraiser in Nashua.

According to this article in the New York Times an internal memorandum about climate change was circulated in the Alaskan division of the federal Fish and Wildlife Service.  The memorandum, which supposedly has also been circulated to biologists and wildlife officials states: “please be advised that all foreign travel requests (SF 1175 requests) and any future travel requests involving or potentially involving climate change, sea ice and/or polar bears will also require a memorandum from the regional director indicating who’ll be the official spokesman on the trip and the one responding to questions on these issues, particularly polar bears.”  Deborah Williams, an environmental campaigner in Alaska, says “this sure sounds like a Soviet-style directive to me.”