11 September 2006Concord Monitor Online/ PenacookLaura Magzis
To Sen. John Sununu: This is in response to your July 6 letter to me, which you wrote after I contacted you about climate change legislation proposed by John McCain and Joe Lieberman.
It is unfortunately clear from your missive that you still are in denial about the cause of global warming. You say, for example, that "while average global temperatures have increased by one degree over the last century, it is difficult to determine how much of this increase is due to human influence."
In fact, the national science academies of the United States, England, France, Russia, Germany, Japan, Italy, Canada, Brazil, China and India state, "The scientific understanding of climate change is now sufficiently clear to justify nations taking prompt action."
You further say that you voted against the McCain-Lieberman initiative because it was too weak to impact the average global temperature. Why don't you propose a stronger bill?
We are already seeing effects of climate change, even here in New Hampshire, where the impact is less than that observed at the earth's poles. This has contributed to earlier springs, warmer winter temperatures, less snowpack, new diseases formerly restricted to areas south of us and, last year, a less beautiful fall leaf season.
These changes have likely already affected New Hampshire's economy and certainly reduced our quality of life.
Please, senator, educate yourself on this issue and take intelligent action.
