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

The Business Roundtable, an association of 160 chief executives of the nation’s most powerful corporations called for “collective actions” to be taken to reduce the risk of global warming in a policy statement on climate change.  According to their website, the Business Roundtable is an association of CEOs “committed to advocating public policies that ensure vigorous economic growth, a dynamic global economy, and the well-trained and productive U.S. workforce essential for future competitiveness.”  The group’s members include many of the companies whose name we would recognize traveling around New Hampshire: Exxon Mobil, Coca-Cola, General Electric, and General Motors.

The Business Roundtable’s Climate Change Statement released yesterday recognized the scientific evidence that the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation both contribute to global warming.  They then stated that, “Business Roundtable supports collective action that will lead to the reduction of GHG emissions on a global basis…with the goal of ultimately stabilizing them at levels that will address the risks of climate change.”  Business Roundtable President, John Castellani said that the statement “marks the first time that a broad cross-section of business leaders from every sector of the U.S. economy have reached consensus on the risks posed by the climate change and the need for action.”  Though the association reached a consensus on the need to address climate change, divisions remain concerning the appropriate methods to combat the problem.

It is not just American business leaders that are recognizing that combating climate change could stimulate economic growth but the Presidential candidates are as well.  Senator John Edwards released his “green collar” jobs plan last Friday in Humboldt Iowa.  Forbes Magazine website reported that Edwards’ plan would create 150,000 “green collar” jobs per year, subsidize 50,000 government jobs in the renewable energy sector, and create over a million jobs by investing in renewable energy in renewable energy.

• An association of 160 of the most influential business leaders in the nation agrees about climate change.
• 164 New Hampshire towns called for national leadership by passing the New Hampshire Climate Change Resolution.
• Global warming will be impossible to ignore in the months leading up to the New Hampshire primary, but we must remain diligent.