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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Letter to the president

The Spokesman-Review

The following editorial, which does not necessarily reflect the views of The Spokesman-Review editorial board, appeared Monday in the Vancouver Columbian.

Dear President Bush:

Congratulations on your re-election, and best wishes for a successful second term. We know you have many major and timely issues on your agenda. You held a press conference Thursday to discuss several. We understand and respect that Iraq, terrorism, Social Security and our complicated and loophole-filled tax code are Priority One.

But we were troubled that no one asked about your second-term vision for the environment, and that you didn’t raise the subject yourself. Many others find this issue crucial. For example, on Friday, Oct. 30, scientists from Oregon State University and the University of Washington released a consensus statement titled, “Likely Impacts of Climate Change on the Pacific Northwest.”

We won’t burden you with many details, but, for example, the scientists agree that since the start of the previous century, the average annual precipitation in the region has increased 10 percent. But they also agree that the temperature is rising and will increase another 2.7 degrees by 2030. Thus, precipitation that falls as snow doesn’t stay in the mountains as long as it used to. That means less water in the summer for irrigation, boating, fish and hydroelectric power.

What’s more, the ocean is rising.

The scientists say that the Pacific Northwest is getting warmer due to “human-caused changes in greenhouse gases.” We won’t overdo it here, but you might direct your Climate Change Man to get all the details on the Web. Direct him to inr.oregonstate.edu. and scroll down to “NEWS.”

This isn’t just a Northwest concern, Mr. President. This morning, at the National Press Club right there in Washington, D.C., a final report of the Arctic Climate Impact Assessment will be released by a group of scientists from eight countries, including the United States. We hear that the four-year study concludes the Arctic is warming rapidly, thanks largely to human-caused conditions, and the global climate is being affected.

We know you’re aware of criticism from environmentalists, the Union of Concerned Scientists and others who claim your administration quashes news from within the government about human-caused climate change. So, we were pleased to read a New York Times interview last month with your science adviser, Dr. John H. Marburger III. He denied such head-in-the-sand behavior and said you have “long recognized the serious implications of climate change, the role of human activity, and our responsibility to reduce emissions.”

With your re-election, Mr. President, we are eager to see you take this to the next level, working with Congress to refine those initiatives and convert them to policy.

Have a good four years.