NEWS

No candidate should ignore climate change

04/09/2007

By Ray Burton and Jim O'Brien

The Concord Monitor 

By the time Secretary of State Bill Gardner sets the date for the New Hampshire presidential primary, Republicans and independents may have more than half a dozen qualified candidates from whom to choose. During the next 10 months, voters will seek a better understanding of the candidates' character and views.

Traditional conservative issues such as immigration, terrorism, taxes and abortion will capture headlines and differentiate candidates in the Republican primary. But another issue is quickly rising in the consciousness of voters: global climate change.

Conservation and environmental protection are no longer a movement of the political left. They have entered the mainstream. Major multinational companies such as British Petroleum, Dupont, General Electric and Wal-Mart advertise their environmental credentials in the hope of cleaning up their corporate images and attracting customers who want to consume while saving the planet. Religious organizations promote the virtue of environmental stewardship, strengthening the big-tent appeal of conservation issues.

There is little doubt in the scientific and political community that climate change is the environmental challenge of our time. Its effects are real and measurable. It will require strong presidential leadership to bring about solutions.

Just this month, New Hampshire citizens made local and national headlines by voting on a resolution at town meetings across the state urging federal action to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions and establish a national effort to promote renewable energy technology. The resolution passed in more than 150 towns, with additional communities still to vote.

Once again, New Hampshire is leading the nation in demanding action from our political leaders.

It is a mistake to view climate change, or conservation issues in general, through a partisan lens. A recent poll of New Hampshire voters conducted by the Mellman Group found that over 70 percent of Republican primary voters see global warming as a serious threat. An overwhelming 82 percent of Republicanprimary voters favor acting now to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions. Democrats are nearly unanimous in their call for action to address the problem. Among primary voters in New Hampshire, the call for action is not a partisan debate.

While being a good steward of the environment is becoming essential for corporate identity, in politics, conservation issues are intrinsically linked to a candidate's character. A candidate who is perceived as out of step on environmental issues will face an increasingly tough uphill battle convincing voters that he or she is in step with voters here and across the nation.

In the weeks and months ahead, candidates of both parties will need to explain their views and solutions on energy and climate change. Voters will demand that candidates have a concrete, sustainable plan to limit carbon pollution and address the challenges climate change presents. Candidates who fail to do so will find themselves struggling to compete in a crowded presidential field.

(Ray Burton is the longtime executive councilor from the North Country. Jim O'Brien was manager and chairman for Gordon Humphrey's 2002 gubernatorial campaign. He is executive director of the Granite State Conservation Voters and a steering committee member of the Carbon Coalition.)