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Just What is Romney’s Position on Global Warming?
-- John -- 01/31/2007
This week former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney spent two days in South Carolina shoring up support for his presidential bid, but while approached on more than one occasion to address global warming, he offered no immediate reactions. In 2004 Romney did have some thoughts on the issue, releasing a Climate Protection Plan for Massachusetts that would have followed the Kyoto Protocol by reducing the state's greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by the year 2010. But Romney eventually backed off on the plan, and in December 2005 pulled out of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, an effort by other New England states to start reducing emissions in 2009 and by 2015 stabilize them at 2002-2004 levels. The deeper question perhaps is whether Romney is ready to commit to the fact that global warming is being caused by human activity. For example, in a July 2003 letter to New York Governor George Pataki, Romney writes, "I concur that climate change is beginning to effect on [sic] our natural resources and that now is the time to take action." But in a letter that appeared in the Boston Globe in May 2004, Romney states, "I read one book over the summer that said, 'gee, global warming is happening for reasons unrelated to human participation,' and other reports, far more, indicate, 'no no, it's very much driven by humans.' Well, I don't know." As recent quetsions from South Carolina citizens suggest, however, presidential candidates will need to be able to better explain their position on this serious problem.
The Cost of Inaction
-- Mike -- 01/31/2007
One of the favorite arguments of global warming deniers is that the financial costs of solving global warming are too great. But that claim is inaccurate and fails to properly consider the cost-benefit of action vs. inaction.
By comparison, consider the tragedy faced by the people of New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina. By some accounts, the costs of repairing and rebuilding this great American city could top $200 billion. However, as the New Republic reported in November 2005, a "study in 1998 estimated that New Orleans could be made safer against flooding caused by powerful hurricanes, at a cost of $14 billion, by restoring and sustaining Louisiana's coastal ecosystem."
That same sort of cost-benefit analysis should be applied to global warming as well.
The fact is the cost of investing in efforts to reduce carbon emissions, develop clean, renewable energy sources and improve energy efficiency pale in comparison to the cost of global warming's consequences years from now should we fail to address the causes of climate change.
However, as today's Los Angeles Times points out, efforts to combat global warming are gaining more attention. And just like education, health care and national security, climate change is now an issue that all candidates running for president must address and be prepared to discuss.
As the field grows, so does the issue
-- Adam -- 01/31/2007
A story in the Los Angeles Times today makes the point that global warming has the momentum to be a critical issue for presidential candidates throughout the 2008 cycle. Even with Congress stirring with hearings on the topic, "many" are pointing to 2008 as the political event that can really change the nation's direction away from fossil fuels. Concern has become strong on both sides of the aisle. One pollster, Whit Ayers, suggests that enough Republican voters care about the issue that candidates in the GOP primary cannot ignore it. "In a July 2006 survey of GOP voters, he found that a majority agreed that the Earth's temperature was rising and that human activity, not normal climate cycles, was the cause." So far, the increased public attention to this issue has worked to inspire several candidates to address it openly. With contenders now just piling into the field, it should be interesting to see how each responds to energized public demands for action.
House Chairman Suggests White House is Censoring Government Scientists
-- Katie -- 01/30/2007
This week during hearings on global warming in the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Harry Waxman (D-CA) had some strong words to say about the administration and their possible censoring of government climate scientists.
Mr. Waxman and Ranking Member Tom Davis (R-VA) have been requesting the administration 's documents on climate change, seeking answers to whether the administration has been censoring government scientists on global warming as claimed by NASA climate scientist James Hanson in yesterday's New York Times. The administration has refused to answer the question or release any documents.
Representative Waxman said, " We know that the White House possesses documents that contain evidence of an attempt by senior administration officials to mislead the public by injecting doubt into the science of global warming and minimize the potential danger."
The administration has been unwilling to take any steps towards implementing solutions to global warming. By withholding scientific information on global warming they are exascerbating their disservice to the public. Americans deserve an open and honest discussion on the serious problem of global warming and we need all the information in order to do that.
For more information, see the NY Times and CNN.
Feeling the heat in New Hampshire
-- Mike -- 01/29/2007
I spent today in New Hampshire, and while in the Granite State I was fortunate enough to sit in on a briefing at the state house in Concord on the likely effects of climate change in the Northeastern United States. The presentation, given by two well-respected climate change experts, was attended by numerous members of the state legislature, as well as dozens of school-aged children, members of the environmental community and other concerned citizens.
The scientists illustrated that new climate projections for the Northeast show dramatic consequences for New Hampshire – from hotter temperatures to reduced snow pack to more extreme precipitation events. Fortunately, the fact that a presentation on global warming would garner such widespread interest – on a Monday afternoon nonetheless – is further proof that people recognize that it is time to take action on this issue.
I was particularly happy to see so many students in attendance, even if some of the science behind global warming may have gone over their heads. After all, it’s their generation – and their children’s generation – that will suffer the consequences if we fail to take serious steps to stop global warming. But their presence today at the capitol building is enough to give me hope that real change is on the way.
Duncan Hunter Chooses South Carolina to Announce Candidacy
-- John -- 01/28/2007
On Thursday, January 25, Congressman Duncan Hunter (R-CA) officially announced his candidacy for President in Spartanburg, SC. He did not field questions from the press or attendees, and spoke almost exclusively on the core principles of his campaign: "Border Enforcement"; "The War on Terror"; and "Fair and Equitable Trade." The next day during a campaign speech at the Charleston School of Law, Hunter made it a point to answer as many questions as possible. He fielded two questions on climate change.
One audience member asked, "What are you, as President, going to do about global warming?" Hunter responded that global warming is a problem and that we need to limit our carbon output, and then offered that he differs from other Republican candidates in that he believes we need to convert completely to ethanol fuel and that the catalyst for converting to ethanol should come from the military and the Department of Defense.
The second question came from Coastal Conservation League Program Director Megan Desrosiers, who addressed coastal South Carolina's vulnerability to rising sea levels and also the efforts of Governors Mark Sanford of South Carolina and Arnold Schwarzenegger of California to develop energy policies to combat climate change. Hunter aimed for laughs by pointing out that Schwarzenegger owns beach front property, but then added, "I think California's climate change plan is great and I'm glad your governor is paying attention to the issue." He then chose not to address any specifics in the state plans or elaborate further on his plan to address climate change.
McCain Visits SC State House
-- John -- 01/25/2007
Looking to shore up support among South Carolina's Republican legislators, Senator John McCain visited their weekly caucus meeting at the State House last Tuesday. While most of his comments to the press centered on his effort to build a political team in a state that handed him a bitter primary defeat in 2000, McCain fielded a question about global warming from SC Wildlife Federation organizer Jenn O'Rourke. When asked about a stance on global warming that has at times set him at odds with the pro-industry element of his own party, the Senator provoked chuckles by replying that he often has taken the unpopular position if it is the right thing. In 2003 Senators McCain and Joe Lieberman (D-CT) introduced the Climate Stewardship Act, which would reduce greenhouse gas pollution while stimulating innovation in the field of environmental protection. Despite the support of 155 American mayors and a coalition of labor and environmental groups (including the National Wildlife Federation and League of Conservation Voters), the measure failed 43 to 55. Reintroduced on 12 January, 2007, the bill now includes Senators Barak Obama (D-IL) and Olympia Snowe (R-ME) as co-sponsors.
SC Governor Announces Climate Change Stockholders Conference
-- John -- 01/23/2007
In his State of the State Address last week, South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford called for a climate change stakeholders conference to address ways to mitigate the impact of hurricanes on South Carolina's coast. While the CVSC endorses efforts to improve building and zoning regulations to mitigate the impact of hurricanes, South Carolina also needs a comprehensive plan to address global warming. This includes not only supporting statewide initiatives to promote renewable energy sources, but also reducing carbon dioxide pollution. In his remarks the Governor offered that we need to think of ourselves "as a country rather than a state" because our competition comes less now from North Carolina or Georgia but the emerging economies of places like China and India. It is worth noting that if South Carolina were a country, we'd be the 38th largest emitter of carbon dioxide in the world. So whatever is happening internationally or on a federal level, global warming should be one of South Carolina's top "domestic" issues.
Global Warming Skeptics Slam Weather Channel Climate Expert
-- Katie -- 01/23/2007
Global warming skeptics are continuing to slam Dr. Heidi Cullen, the Weather Channel's climate expert and host of the weekly show The Climate Code for her blog post calling on local meteorologists to use sound science when talking about global warming.
"Meteorologists have a responsibility to truly educate themselves on the science of global warming. Meteorologists are among the few people trained in the sciences who are permitted regular access to our living rooms. And in that sense, they owe it to their audience to distinguish between solid, peer-reviewed science and junk political controversy,” said Dr. Cullen in her blog post about the meteorologists and global warming.
Despite the overwhelming consensus [by groups like NASA and the American Association for Advancement of Science] in the scientific community that global warming is occurring and should be addressed immediately, skeptics continue to attack Dr. Cullen and others.
Skeptics are clearly out of the mainstream and are trying to squelch science. There is a tidal wave of support to take action on global warming, including major corporations such as GE, evangelical churches and scientists who have joined forces to call on President Bush and Congress to take real action to address global warming. Congressional Leaders from John McCain to Nancy Pelosi are talking about the importance of finding real solutions to slow climate change. Instead of slamming Dr. Cullen for daring to suggest that critics of global warming use real studies to back up their claims, it's time these critics join in a real, substantive dialogue on solutions to address global warming. In the meantime, the rest of us should stand up in support of those like Dr. Heidi Cullen. Please share your support of Dr. Cullen on this blog and on the Weather Channel blog.
Town Meeting Initiative Heating Up In New Hampshire
-- brucebc -- 01/22/2007
More than 115 Communities in NH have placed a resolution on their Town Meeting ballot that, when passed, will send a message to Presidential Candidates, the NH Governor, and NH's Congressional Delegation supporting a national program to require reductions in Greenhouse Gas Emissions and a national research initiative to foster rapid development of sustainable energy technologies. The Town Meeting Initiative is led by the Carbon Coalition, a non-partisan coalition of citizens, scientists, businesses, students, communities and organizations who've come together to advocate for a national energy policy that protects our communities and environment from the ravages of global warming caused by carbon pollution.
The Town Meeting Initiative serves as NH's first rallying cry on Global Warming as we head into our First In The Nation Primary season. Led by volunteers living in Towns throughout the state, this effort shows how much the citizens of NH care about this issue and that they understand that we're all affected and we all have a role to play as we seek solutions to our biggest problems. In March, most towns in NH will assemble in their Town Meetings where they'll have the opportunity to express their concern about global warming and voice a demand for action. Here in NH we're very excited about this important effort. Stay tuned for more....
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