In terms of Presidential campaigning, I am inclined to say "yes."
Gone is the gas tax holiday pandering from the primary season. This preceded the largest run-up in oil prices in history (see charting below) and the largest run-up in energy/climate rhetoric in the Congress as well as on the campaign trail.
However, it seems that events in the finance community from the past month and impending economic doom (see charting below) have distracted Presidential voters and Congressional constituents (not mutually exclusive) from the slow burn (pun intended) of climate change. Recent polling on national problems/priorities has economic issues trumping all others by significant margins.
Nine-month NYMEX crude oil charting (from the Financial Times) overlaid with economic and political events (click to enlarge):
With the election less than a month away, the 110th Congress adjourning soon-thereafter, and equities markets in steep decline, have we heard about all we're going to hear about climate? When President McCain/Obama arrives at the White House in January and Vice President Palin/Biden swears in the 111th Congress, will climate change get a renewed chance or will they still be cleaning up the markets?
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Robert J. Kaminski
M.S., Public Policy and Management - 2009
Managing Editor, Heinz School Review
1 comment:
Not necessarily. The environment as a main talking point has definitely taken a back seat to the economic turmoil, but certain "green" industries are still being promoted. Instead of being a solution to global warming, renewable energy sources more fuel efficient cars are instead a means to reduce our dependence on foreign oil. A change in rhetoric to be sure, but the result is still the same.
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