After being left out in the cold all year, global warming is making a reappearance on the campaign trail. President Obama, who campaigned aggressively in 2008 on the promise of fighting climate change, has barely mentioned the subject during this campaign, despite a summer of record heat and drought and news reports linking such extreme weather events to increases in greenhouse gases. [National Journal]
But on Thursday night, under the spotlight at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, just two months from the general election, Obama made his most high-profile mention of the controversial issue this year.
“And yes, my plan will continue to reduce the carbon pollution that is heating our planet—because climate change is not a hoax,” Obama said. “More droughts and floods and wildfires are not a joke. They’re a threat to our children’s future. And in this election, you can do something about it,” he said, to a sustained ovation.
Until now, Obama’s advisers calculated that in a campaign centered on the economy, a pledge to save the environment by cutting carbon pollution would fall flat—and create a target for Republican attacks. But Thursday’s remarks could signal a new willingness to address a crucial public-policy issue which both campaigns have until now avoided.
President Barack Obama’s effort to develop renewable power sources and persuade Congress to adopt a long-term energy policy will be priorities should he win a second term, his top climate and energy aide said. [Businessweek]
Scientists in the Arctic are warning that this summer’s record-breaking melt is part of an accelerating trend with profound implications. [BBC]
Preliminary lab results show two oil samples taken on the Louisiana coast are from BP’s 2010 Gulf spill, state officials said Thursday. [CNN]
Despite locally drenching rains from the remnants of Hurricane Isaac, the worst drought in more than 50 years is still firmly entrenched across much of the U.S. [Climate Central]
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources says drought is fueling an outbreak of a fatal deer disease in southern and central Illinois and surrounding states. [Sacramento Bee]
Meteorological and ecological shifts driven by climate change are creating a slow and often unpredictable bloom of novel public health challenges across the United States. [New York Times]
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Last night, Obama opened the door for climate change to become part of the debates. I see this a real weakness for Romney, who flopped on the issue to please the right. Obama has a real oppotunity to demonstrate that Romney lacks the character to sit in the big chair (won’t confront a known security threat) and to expose the trus motivations of the GOP (money, money and more money, no matter who gets hurt). I hope the campaign takes advantage of it. The President has the drought as evidence and science on his side. It’s past time we had this out.
Here in PA, we have solar industry that is being held hostage by Republicans. The Presidents attaching urgency to the issue of global warming (and ocean acidification) can only help those, like myself, who would like a new career in the renewables sector.
And if Obama does not attack Romney over climate destabilisation, what will that tell you about Obama?
agree with this….
Barack Obama’s speech tonight was….OK. But that was about all.
http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2012/09/obama-phones-it-dnc-finale
OK? It was vastly superior to Mitt’s speech. “You can do something about it (climate change)”. Vote Obama. No joke.
We are seing this in our region in the NA NW also…
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/07/us/their-food-scarce-from-drought-animals-dine-in-town.html
I can’t believe we were watching the same speech. Does anyone recall the comment about 100 years of natural gas right before his pivot to climate change? That is an incoherent energy policy. Obama’s core policy is the same as Romney’s: Cheap energy…for all …forever ..,regardless what it means for climate.
yes- it feels like we are so SO desperate for some sign of sanity from our leaders that even the mention that climate change is ‘no hoax’ and ‘no joke’ can be latched onto as an encouraging sign. And it IS encouraging compared to the absolute nightmare of the more ‘conservative’ elements of our culture. But-if we take a moment to really take in the gulf between what Obama has said and done and ‘We are in an quickly deteriorating emergency situation and here is what we are going to do about it”…well…it’s a pretty wide gulf. The developments on the ground seem WAY ahead of humankind’s critical mass capacity to ‘get it’ and to take appropriate action.
In a nut-shell-or should that be nut-house?
Since the climate is only major news here, and on a few other sites dedicated to saving us all, it is not news and will not be mentioned in the presidential debates unless we all start doing something to make that happen. If every reader here were to email Jim Lehrer of the Newshour and demand that he present a question on climate change, it might happen. But if we don’t it sure that nothing like that will happen. Make those who want our vote go on the record.
Re West Nile, the 7th outbreak of Hendra virus was reported in Queensland this week and Dengue fever heading south at the rate of knots- is at epidemic proportions in Sri Lanka. As populations increasingly collide, the Big One comes ever closer, ME
What is the risk of thermohaline circulation collapse? https://www.facebook.com/ClimateState/posts/362850310455921
In their 2007 report the IPCC put it at 30% but with huge uncertainties. The odds have changed dramatically since then, ME
Good news. My political party has decided to see a little reality, is willing to speak up about it and show empathy for suffering. Glad to see this change.
But it was President Lyndon Johnson who first received official White House briefings from scientists on global warming. And Nixon ignored his info too. So the political process has a lot of catching up to do.