Lawmakers push for climate change debate

S.C. lawmakers are turning the heat up on presidential candidates, urging them to seriously address climate change issues as they campaign for office.

Two-thirds of House members and nearly half S.C. senators signed a letter to that effect. Members discussed the open letter at a news conference this morning.

"South Carolina residents are concerned about our country's dependence on oil and the threat climate change poses to our state," said Rep. Ben Hagood, R-Charleston.

The letter does not advance a specific solution or agenda. It merely asks candidates to address the issue in South Carolina.

Democrats take center stage this week, with a nationally televised debate set for Thursday. Republicans will hold a debate in S.C. next month.

The letter was signed by 44 Republicans and 44 Democrats in the House. In the Senate, 10 Republicans and 11 Democrats signed.

Comments

[30+ year resident of Columbia, SC]

This is, I believe, is much ado about nothing. What will be affected by this debate? The U.S. Congress will decide this for us.
Why can't our South Carolina Representatives focus on issues on which something could actually be accomplished for OUR state?!

[Bob]

Duct tape over Al Gore's mouth ought to cut out over 90% of the United State's global warming emissions.

[Randy Thomas]

I might suggest duct tape for all the Republicans who deny the science. Given their party's dislike of any science that challenges their "flat world" view it would give us a chance to finally take a deep breath of clean air.

[Ray Black]

Al Gore is a scientist???!!! Last time I checked, he was an overweight, washed out lawyer/politician with a power bill that is larger than the GDP of most third world countries. Oh, wait; that's right; it doesn't matter how much power Al uses; he uses "renewable energy". No matter how you slice it; he's still wasting energy. If he wants to help with global warming, maybe he should start with conserving energy. Put up or shut up, Al.

[Mike Cakora]

For those concerned about world opinion of America's profligate ways in terms of energy, relief is in sight: China will pass the United States as the world's biggest source of greenhouse gasses this year, an official with the International Energy Agency was quoted as saying.

China had been forecast to surpass the U.S. in 2010, but its sizzling economic growth has pushed the date forward, the IEA's chief economist, Fatih Birol, was quoted as saying in an interview appearing in Tuesday's Wall Street Journal newspaper. I hope Palmetto State legislators realize that manufacturing and other economic activities generate greenhouse gases.

China's greenhouse gas generation would increase with "normal" economic development as it increased energy generation to fuel its internal growth. Arguably it's undergone accelerated growth by its emphasis on growing by exporting manufactured goods worldwide. India is doing the same, as are other "developing" nations.

It's entirely fair to say that the relocation of manufacturing from the US to offshore locations improves (lessens) domestic US greenhouse gas generation while it increases the output of such gases from the countries to which the plants are re-located.

The only way to increase domestic energy output with little impact on greenhouse gas emissions is to rely on "clean" generation, and of the candidates -- wind, solar, and nuclear -- only the last is reliable 24x7x365. It therefore seems to me that if one is interested in minimizing greenhouse emissions, increasing economic growth, and attracting industry to one's state, one should focus on incentives for nuclear power.

If one is willing to settle for two out of three -- that is, if one considers greenhouse gas emissions to be inconsequential -- then coal is the way to go.

[Joe Henderson]

I think Mr. Hagood and countless other South Carolinians are onto something here. Do we really want to watch our State’s tourism economy get flooded and washed out into the sea? Didn’t that already happen with our manufacturing sector? Do we want to sit here doing nothing while every major scientific body in the world tells us humans are causing climate change? Do we want to let a very small and well funded fringe group of so called “climate skeptics,” who now join the ranks of the flat earth society, lead us down a profoundly dangerous path? Do we want to watch Charleston and Myrtle Beach become permanently flooded by the rising sea and then finished off by a parade of Hurricane Katrinas? Absolutely not!

We here in South Carolina have a great opportunity to be a leader in the fight against climate change while making money by getting in on the new up and coming energy markets. Our elected officials are very wise in taking steps to foster the creation of jobs and keep money here in the state with the development of zero carbon biofuels. History will thank Mark Sanford for putting together a climate change committee. We are now moving ahead towards protecting our interests right here in State and making money as a result.

As a red state, South Carolina is a key player on the national scene with regards to fighting climate change. Now that we have started to act, we are getting ready to show the rest of the nation this is an issue that ultimately has nothing to do with politics, but rather with good economic sense. If we do nothing, for whatever excuse, we stand to loose more than anyone could imagine. What legacy do we intend to leave to future generations in South Carolina? As we act, we will strengthen our economy right here at home and help lead the way nationally, and as a result internationally- as many countries will not come to the table until the world’s single major super power does so first.

Many see climate change as a doomsday scenario, but I think we simply could not ask for a better opportunity – here is a chance to protect our beautiful State, take the moral high ground, lead the way, and make money in the process.