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

Friends of the political climate around the Granite State endured the late summer heat and humidity to see Edwards, Giuliani, and Richardson.  Here is a quick wrap up:

Sen. John Edwards spoke to a large crowd in Portsmouth last night and mentioned global warming a few times in passing and once in depth.  There was nothing new in his speech that was not covered in Friday’s blog, but I was surprised by two omissions about GHG emissions.  Edwards concluded his speech with a discussion about reasserting America as a positive global leader, but did not mention climate change.  Though he is in favor of international negotiations, it is surprising that he did not seize the opportunity to mention climate change in the context of a discussion of America’s global leadership.  In an email to TPC, an FOTPC expressed confusion about why Edwards did not mention climate change and the danger of increasing hurricanes when he was asked about the Katrina disaster.

Mayor Rudy Giuliani had a ‘nice little Saturday’ planned out, not at ‘the Home Depot,’ but at true NH hardware establishment - Scamman’s Home and Garden in Stratham.  Giuliani made it clear in previous trips through New Hampshire that he would not be in favor of international climate change agreements without the co-operation of India and China.  So, I thought it appropriate to ask him how he would involve India and China.  Giuliani stated that he would not pressure India and China to join an international agreement.  Giuliani believes that it is unrealistic to think that India and China would commit to GHG reductions because in his view it would mean that “they would have to stop development.  They are not going to stop taking 20-30 million people out of poverty.”  Giuliani stressed his devotion to achieving energy independence and noted that he wants to then “sell energy independence” to India and China.

After achieving energy independence, Giuliani would pursue a “whole new standard” in regards to international reductions of GHG emissions.  Giuliani did not provide any details about what this standard would be in Manchester, Stratham, or New Castle.  When you see him next time, ask Giuliani to speak more on his “whole new standard.”

An FOTPC caught Gov. Bill Richardson in Peterborough last Friday.  Richardson referenced “energy” as one of the six things he would address in his first six days in office and did discuss climate change.  As we know, the issue of energy is not synonymous with global warming.  Just like we challenged WMUR to compare the candidates on more than just ‘energy,’ we challenge Richardson to his list and include update climate change specifically, not just energy.  Richardson should not forget that he endorsed the NH Climate Change Resolution and not the NH Energy Resolution.