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

Running a “presidential” campaign before it is actually a presidential campaign seems to be this primary season’s hottest trend.  About a month ago, after months of campaigning and a dip in the polls, Sen. McCain formally announced his candidacy.  Also after months of campaigning, yesterday Gov. Richardson, a lesser-known, “second-tier” candidate officially announced his candidacy during a trip to California.  While an announcement this late in the game is basically a publicity stunt, we did appreciate that Richardson talked about global warming during his “official announcement” speech: “We also need a president who is not dismissive of energy independence and global warming…This is no longer a choice, it is a moral imperative for a planet and a matter of survival for our country.'’

It appears that Newt Gingrich is another trend setter.  Gingrich was in the Granite State yesterday signing copies of his book “Pearl Harbor.”  Even though Gingrich has said “A year is more campaigning than the American people need to endure,” his book tour conveniently takes him to all of the early primary states.  If he decides to make a run, he said, “we would probably do it on November 6.”  In the meantime you’ll probably find him off campaigning.

John Edwards was also in the state yesterday.  He talked about global warming calling it “serious business”, and sticking to his “we have to be willing to be patriotic about something other than war” spiel.

This past weekend, graduation ceremonies throughout the state shared an expected common theme–the future.  And it’s no surprise that global warming was one of the issues on many minds (and on many caps). 

Former presidents George Bush Sr. and Bill Clinton spoke at the University of New Hampshire’s commencement ceremony on Saturday.  Bush told the graduating class of 2007 that they don’t have to run for office to become leaders.  Instead, he explained ”all you have to do is care, roll up your sleeves and claim one of society’s problems as your own.”  Many students and faculty members, sporting bright red “Stop Global Warming” stickers on their caps and gowns, clearly already had that piece of advice figured out.  Clinton told the class that they face a world of “inequality, insecurity, and–because of climate change and resource depletion–unsustainability.”  But he said, “I believe that you are going to be given a great opportunity to change this world of division and divisiveness because it’s also a world full of decency and hope.”

Barack Obama echoed those remarks when speaking to graduates at Southern NH University.  Obama told the class ”We are counting on you to help fix a health care system that’s leaving too many Americans sick or bankrupt or both. We are counting on you to bring this planet back from the brink by solving this crisis of global climate change.” 

A new Zogby poll shows that in NH Mitt Romney is leading fellow Republican presidential wannabes by more than 15%.  Hopefully this jump in popularity will bring him back to the Granite State soon–we certainly have a lot of questions for him.  This article in MarketWatch compares the candidates’ positions (or lack thereof) on global warming.  Romney’s touched on the issue of global warming–”I think scientists are increasingly of the view that the planet is warming and that we as humans contribute to it.  What is less certain is whether there’s something that we can do that will substantially change the warming pattern that will not at the same time cause massive unemployment and poverty”–but according to the article he has no position on mandatory reductions in emissions, he’s opposed to a higher fuel economy standard, and he has no position on a renewable standard for electricity.  Navin Nayak, global warming project director from the League of Conservation Voters, believes “it’s emerging as a top-tier issue.  The candidates have no choice but to develop a plan.”  Ok, we realize the primary is still a ways away, but how long must we wait?  Speaking of polls, a poll commissioned in NH in 2006 shows that 94% of Democratic and 70% of Republican primary goers say they see global warming as a serious threat.

On the other side of the line, Sen. Clinton continues to hold her lead amongst the Democratic candidates in NH, and she does so with a strong position on global warming.  Clinton is pushing for a 65% mandatory emissions reduction by 2050, an increase in the fuel efficiency standard of 10 mpg in 10 years, and a 20% renewable standard for electricity by 2020.   Sen. Dodd is calling for a 50 mpg vehicle standard by 2017 and Sen. Edwards’ is pushing to reduce US emissions by 80% by 2050.

And Gov. Richardson earned LCV praise yesterday when he delivered his plan for shifting US energy use and halting global warming: “I am issuing a call to action, for Congress, the energy industry and the public.  I am calling for a new American revolution -an energy and climate revolution.”  Richardson’s plan includes a US reduction of greenhouse gas emissions of 80% by 2040, and a 50 mpg fuel standard by 2020.  He says that his experience under President Clinton as energy secretary gives him a “leg up” over other candidates.  Sounds like Richardson has raised the ante.  Who will be the first to match him?

Last week TPC reported on Rupert Murdoch’s most recent strategic business move–making News Corps Media (Fox News, 20th Century Fox, etc.) carbon neutral in three years.  Amanda Little from Grist had a chance to sit down with Murdoch and find out what motivated this new decision (go here to read the entire interview).  Businessmen and politicians better listen up, because Murdoch, a well-known “business savvy” guy, has a lot to say. 

For businessmen: Murdoch explains his “bottom-line argument for [his] climate program” is that “whatever it costs will be minimal compared to our overall revenues, and we’ll get that back many times over, by running a more efficient company and by growing morale among our employees.

For politicians:  Climate change would be like “a litmus test almost.  If you had someone totally opposed to doing anything about climate change, then I would oppose them.”  It’s nice to hear him talking about politics and climate change–that something needs to be done by our leaders.  But even though some candidates (and I won’t name names) have pretty much remained silent on the issue, I would hope that no one running for office would be “totally opposed to doing anything.”  That is not a litmus test, it means nothing.

President Clinton, who participated in a “green” cities conference in NYC earlier this week, was interviewed on NBC nightly news last night.  Clinton explained “we’ve known now for many years that the world is warming at an unsustainable rate, that it’s caused by human activity and that we’ve got to do something to turn it around.”  Clinton rattled off the environmental work he did during his time in office, and said that “this administration has not been willing to in effect limit carbon emissions and require reductions and create a market by pricing carbon” which is what he “thinks should be done.”  He drives a hybrid, has changed all of his light bulbs, and plans to do a complete “overhaul” of his 100 year farmhouse that “leaks” energy.  When asked about his wife, he remained relatively quiet saying “I do what I’m asked to do.” According to this article in the NY Times Hillary Clinton’s “campaign views Mr. Clinton’s highly visible work on [global warming] as a political plus.”  Maybe this is what he’s told to do.