This is what the NRDC Action Fund has been reading this week:
Florida is Sinking, but Still Rubio Denies – While panicking Miami policymakers are contemplating dire climate-related matters like the possibility of relocating people and infrastructure, Florida’s two presidential candidates are silent. Senator Marco Rubio and former Governor Jeb Bush have ignored the problem. Bush has no constituents to answer to anymore, but Rubio does. On the campaign trail, he brushes off questions about climate change by saying, “I’m not a scientist.” His silence is a stark contrast to the deeds of Florida’s senior senator, Bill Nelson, a Democrat and former astronaut. Last year, Nelson held a rare Senate field hearing in Miami Beach on sea level rise, and he frequently speaks about the issue on the Senate floor. (Newsweek)
Christie Dropped the Ball – At least $181 million was reserved for Sandy-damaged New York State, New York City and New Jersey to support resiliency against floods and disaster, as part of the National Disaster Resilience Competition. But New York state and city alone took home more than that for having strong applications.Meanwhile, the Garden State barely met the minimum score to receive any funding, according to U.S. Housing Secretary Julián Castro. (WNYC)
UN Climate Chief: Will Next U.S. President Lead on Climate? – In an interview with ClimateWire, Figueres brushed off questions about whether the landmark deal struck in December would be jeopardized if the United States elects a Republican president with a radically different stance on climate change than President Obama. She said she trusted that the current president had put forward a durable commitment, but also predicted the United States would keep its word if only out of self-interest. The world’s largest economy must decide “whether they want to be the leaders of the 21st century or whether they’re happy to be the leaders of the 20th century,” Figueres said. “Which century do you want to be in?” (E&E News)
From One GOP-er to Another: Republicans Needs to ‘Thaw’ on Global Warming – Too many conservative politicians and pundit-entertainers tell us what we want to hear: We have problems, but climate change isn’t one of them. With the data now clearly overtaking the skeptics, the line from some leaders has softened to “I’m not a scientist.” Well, then, let’s listen to the actual scientists. (USA Today)
Fact-checking Cruz’s Baloney Science – Ted Cruz is decidedly at odds with the scientific consensus that Earth is warming because of human activity. A look at some of the Republican presidential contender’s claims on the subject in New Hampshire this week and how they compare with the facts: CRUZ: “The satellites that actually measure the temperature, that we’ve launched into the air to measure the temperature, they have recorded no significant warming whatsoever for the last 18 years.” THE FACTS: Scientists, including those who work with the very satellite measuring system that Cruz refers to, say he’s misusing the satellite data. (Associated Press)
Denier Hall of Shame – When federal scientists announced 2015 as the warmest year on record this week, Democrats and environmentalists responded by saying the new mark injected a sense of urgency into the fight against climate change. Republicans, including those running for president, mostly let the announcement slip by unmentioned. GOP candidates have ripped President Obama for his efforts to tackle climate change, arguing the president should be more focused on fighting international terrorism. (The Hill)
Trump Blizzard of 2016 – The GOP candidates for president missed the memo. They are too busy chasing Donald Trump…. Meanwhile, for Trump climate change is a problem to solve like walling off Mexico: “I will be the greatest negotiator with the weather the world has ever seen.” …And so, the Trump blizzard of 2016 is paradoxically more comforting than reality. (Huffington Post)
Voters Grilling GOP on Climate Change – Only a couple of weeks remain before the nation’s first presidential primary election in New Hampshire and Republican candidates are campaigning heavily in a vital effort to sway voters. On the stump, they are fielding questions from voters about climate change and energy policy. Here are a few of the questions voters are asking — and what a few of the candidates are saying. (PRI)