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

In an interview with Grist, Sen. Obama answered a number of environmental questions including the following question about a carbon tax vs. a cap-and-trade program.

“I believe that, depending on how it is designed, a carbon tax accomplishes much of the same thing that a cap-and-trade program accomplishes. The danger in a cap-and-trade system is that the permits to emit greenhouse gases are given away for free as opposed to priced at auction. One of the mistakes the Europeans made in setting up a cap-and-trade system was to give too many of those permits away. So as I roll out my proposals for a cap-and-trade system, I will price permits so that it has much of the same effect as a carbon tax.” (Read more here)

We caught up with Rudy Giuliani this morning who was talking about health care in Rochester.  With the Union of Concerned Scientists saying that there are serious concerns about climate change and public health and 84% of NH Republican primary voters favoring that we take action against global warming now, Giuliani discussed climate change for over five minutes during the Q&A. 

Giuliani made clear that he is dedicated to nuclear power, not as the ’silver bullet’ to solve the climate change crisis but as an area that should be expanded.  Giuliani segued into a discussion on how many of his solutions to energy independence would simultaneously combate climate change.  Giuliani supports funding research of clean coal technologies to help them become competative in the market.  Giuliani cited that hydro, wind, and solar power only make up about 7% of our energy supply now and he wanted to see that at about 15-20%.

Giuliani then recognized the role that foreign policy holds in a climate change plan beyond achieving energy independence and breaking from Middle East oil.  He believes that the president must lead our nation into international cooperation on climate change, especially with India and China.  He stated that climate change is a serious issue, but “we should not react to it as if it were a crisis.  Because if we do we will make serious mistakes distorting our economy.  We won’t get requisite changes from the by countries that have to make changes for our changes to be worth it.”

Click here to listen to what Giuliani said in Rochester.

Just in from Zo Tobi and the Re-Energize NH organizers:

“This evening - Tuesday, July 31 at 6:30pm - the March to Re-Energize New Hampshire is celebrating its kickoff in Greely Park, at 105 Concord St. in Nashua.  Granny D, no stranger to long journeys for a cause, will talk to us about the power of walking, and give her blessings as we prepare to go.

We’ve devoted the last two months of our lives to organizing the March to Re-Energize New Hampshire.  Wednesday morning, dozens of marchers will leave Nashua’s City Hall, bound for Concord to issue one of the loudest calls yet for real global warming solutions…

Sign up to join us for the March to Re-Energize NH:  Aug. 1-5, or the rally on Sunday, Aug 5!”

Read the rest of Zo’s blog here.