Presidential Candidates Avoid Climate For First Time In Nearly 20 Years

(Before It's News)

First published on ClimateProgress.org, a project of the Center for American Progress Action Fund, which was recently named one of Time magazine’s Top 25 blogs of 2010.

For the first time since 1984, presidential candidates did not mention the issue of climate change during debates. Even as the world has seen 331 consecutive months with global temperatures over the 20th century average, even as extreme weather gets more intense and expensive, even as the Arctic sees unprecedented melt of sea ice, and even as scientists issue dire warnings about an approaching climate “tipping point,” the issue got no mention at all with three debates.

At the end of tonight’s foreign policy debate, CBS’ Bob Scheiffer got the closest of anyone to the issue: “What do you believe is the greatest future threat to the national security of this country?” he asked.

Alas, nothing on climate — an issue that experts say will be a central driver of foreign policy over the coming decade.

Nostalgic for a time when climate change was a serious issue for presidential candidates? Watch the compilation below:

• Why It’s Impossible To Ignore Climate In A Presidential Foreign Policy Debate
• Let’s Raise The Voltage In The Presidential Energy Debate
• How The Right Wing Has Put The Grand Canyon And Other Public Lands In The Crosshairs This Election
• China’s State-Owned Media: ‘Global Warming Is Melting Mountain Ice Cap’ Posing ‘Great Threat’ To Water Supply
• Denver Post Slams Romney’s ‘Drill-At-All-Costs’ Energy Policy
• FERC Order 1000: The Most Exciting Energy Regulation You’ve Never Heard Of
• Antarctica Is Losing Weight But Contributes Little To Rising Sea Level
• AYCC receives donation from Climate Positive
• Paul Kurtz Has Died
• School District to Save $300,000 Annually Thanks to Solar Shade Canopies