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

Politicians are often criticized for “flip-flopping” on issues, (take John Kerry for instance).   But sometimes changing positions–or more appropriately in this case, finally acknowleding an overwhelming scientific consensus–on an issue is a good thing.  While it’s due past, I was still rather surprised when I read this article in today’s Washington Post.  Yesterday, potential presidential candidate, Newt Gingrich, and past presidential runner-up, John Kerry, had a “friendly exchange” on Capitol Hill debating climate change in the U.S.  They disagreed on the way the U.S. should tackle climate change–Gingrich favors “tax incentives to reduce carbon dioxide” while Kerry favors “a government “cap and trade” program.”  What they didn’t debate, drum roll, was the science.  Gingrich who in 2005 was quoted saying “there’s no evidence to support global warming–none.  It’s essentially cultural anthropology” began yesterday’s exchange conceding ”that global warming is real, that humans have contributed to it and that ‘we should address it very actively.’” 

Gingrich isn’t the only unlikely person speaking out about global warming.  This morning ConocoPhillips joined the U.S. Climate Action Partnership, becoming the first major U.S. oil company to take the step.  The partnership is an alliance of big businesses and environmental groups working together to push President Bush to put a mandatory national cap on greenhouse gas emissions. As recently as January, Jim Mulva, chairman and chief executive of ConocoPhillips, said there were other ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions “(rather) than have mandates saying specifically, ‘you have to do it this way and that.’”  Now, having joined the partnership he believes a “mandatory national framework” is our best bet. 

He may have pushed the Live Earth climate concert from Capitol Hill to the Garden State claiming “there has never been a partisan political event at the Capitol, and this is a partisan political event,” but with Gingrich and ConocoPhillips suddenly waking up, maybe Sen. James Inhofe will eventually join them in the real world.