The Biggest Loser in US Election Is the Climate

The earth can anticipate food shortages, more severe weather and irreversible damage to the planet unless immediate action is taken to reduce carbon emissions, suggests a UN report. Days later, US voters placed Republicans in charge of both branches of the US Congress. “Global warming remains a low-priority issue in American politics — in a Pew poll, it ranked a lowly 8th (out of 11) on the list of issues voters care about,” reports Brad Plumer for Vox. “And, more to the point, it's become an incredibly polarizing topic.” Polls suggest that more than 80 percent of Republicans not regard climate change policy as a priority. The new leadership does not have a large enough majority to prevent presidential vetoes, and Plumer suggests that change will slowly emerge in the United States – the world’s second largest emitter – with development and reduced costs of new technologies, and cities and states going it alone. Researchers warn costs of climate change could mount with every passing year. – YaleGlobal