Climate change catching voter attention around world

[leftchick]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20061213/lf_nm/climate_politics_dc

BERLIN (Reuters) - "It's the environment, stupid!"

Just as Bill Clinton used the battle cry "It's the economy, stupid!" to keep his 1992 presidential campaign focused, political leaders worldwide are chanting a new mantra based on growing alarm about global warming.

Mainstream parties in Germany, Britain, France, Canada, the United States and Austria believe tackling climate change is a vote winner while established Green parties in Germany and Austria are experiencing a renaissance.

Arnold Schwarzenegger won re-election as California governor in a landslide last month after distancing himself from President George W. Bush, a fellow Republican, and championing measures to cut the state's greenhouse gas emissions.

In Britain, Tony Blair and his probable successor Gordon Brown have made the fight against climate change a priority and the leader of the pro-business Conservative Party, David Cameron, has won over voters by talking up environmental issues.

[gasperc]

1. If the artic melts by 2040...

that got to do some damage to Venice and some other low lying areas of Europe

[Barrett808]

8. Full collapse of the Greenland ice sheet raises global sea level by about 7 meters

If all ice melts (Antarctica + glaciers), global sea level rises about 70 meters.

[Lautremont]

2. And in Canada, Stephane Dion, a passionate environmentalist,

just won the Liberal leadership spot, against all predictions.

I find it so unbelievably fucking hard to believe when chimpman or his lackeys pull out that old "There's still much doubt and lack of consensus on the science of so-called global warming." Bull-fucking-shit, idiots.

As you can tell, this burns my britches.

[irislake]

7. I don't know any Canadians

who are not terribly concerned about global warming. Stephen Harper is toast.

[mcscajun]

3. Attacking the issue of Climate Change head-on could have two benefits.

"Climate change was regarded as important by 93 percent and viewed as the number two issue behind unemployment, up from fourth place in 2000."

Anyone think that major efforts around the world to forestall climate change won't increase employment? There are bound to be new industries, new businesses resulting from a focused effort. Nothing less will do to address the problem, so I see these two issues as twined.

[BadgerKid]

4. Current leaders too short-sighted

Business see only a net loss with such effort. They had foresight for Y2K testing, which probably did increase employment, but it was secondary to maintaining the revenue stream and hence profits. The 1970's saw the need for energy independence from the Middle East, and 30+ years years later that hasn't happened.

When businesses figure a way to create a profit stream, then we will have our employment. Maybe some federal "New Deal" type program will bring employment sooner.

[mcscajun]

5. Exactly right - that's why I said only a focused effort on the problem will do

Short of a "space race" or "Manhattan-project" type of effort, nothing will get done. If we have such an effort, the benefits will be enormous, both for the environment, and for employment.

[Imagevision]

6. sicko Bush--> "we'll all be dead in 40 years anyway"