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

The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), which has been leading the scientific community in environmental research and outreach since 1969, will release a report tomorrow detailing the most up to date projections for how global warming could affect NH (bookmark www.climatechoices.org and check out the report tomorrow to hear what they have to say).  In their media advisory, UCS says their comprehensive study examines how coastal areas, fisheries, forests, agriculture, winter recreation and human health could be seriously affected by climate change. 

In The Changing Northeast Climate summary from their 2006 report, the scientists projected that with emissions continuing at the current high levels, NH summers could feel like the current summer climate of North Carolina by the end of the century while snow-covered days could decrease by half.  The team of leading scientists emphasizes that the choices we make today and in the coming years can determine the severity of impacts on the region’s economy and quality of life. 

It’s no surprise with news like this and the Live Earth Concert that many political and environmental news sites were focused on climate change and the presidential candidates this past weekend.  Articles from both Greenwire and The Washington Post noted the democratic candidates’ Virtual Town Hall where they answered questions and detailed their plans to combat global warming.  This is a great way to compare the democratic candidates on the issue; hopefully we’ll see a similar debate among the republican candidates soon.  Sen. Clinton, who will be all over NH this weekend, emphasized that climate change is ”obviously one of my highest priorities.”  We hope our FOTPC’s will be out in full force this weekend to ask her and all of the candidates what their plans are!