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What a Changing Climate Means for Government
Looking back at 2018’s weather-related news, it seems clear that this was the year climate change became unavoidable. I don’t mean that the fires in California, coastal flooding in the Carolinas, and drought throughout the West were new evidence of climate change. Rather, they shifted the national mindset. They made climate change a political issue […]
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Looking back at 2018’s weather-related news, it seems clear that this was the year climate change became unavoidable. I don’t mean that the fires in California, coastal flooding in the Carolinas, and drought throughout the West were new evidence of climate change. Rather, they shifted the national mindset. They made climate change a political issue that cannot be avoided.
The Earth’s climate changes all the time. But what we’re seeing today is different: the increasing frequency and severity of extreme weather. Wet places are becoming wetter; dry places are growing dryer; where it was hot a generation ago, it’s hotter now; where it’s historically been cool, it’s growing warmer. The global impact of human activity — specifically, the burning of hydrocarbons — is shuffling the deck. And we’re only beginning to grasp the impact on our political and economic systems.
Warmer overall temperatures, for instance, have lengthened the growing season across the U.S. — by about two weeks compared to a century ago. But the impact on fruit and grain production isn’t just about the growing season: plant diseases are more prevalent, and the insects that are vital to healthy agricultural systems are struggling. Insects that spread human diseases, like mosquitoes and ticks, are flourishing.
Precipitation is also changing. There will be more droughts and more heat waves, which will become especially severe in the South and West and in cities. This is troubling news. Extreme heat, according to the Centers for Disease Control, “often results in the highest number of annual deaths among all weather-related hazards.” In other words, it kills more people than other weather-related disasters. The human cost and strain on public resources of prolonged heat waves will be extensive.
The rise in sea levels will be even more disruptive. Sea levels have been increasing since we began burning fossil fuels in the 1880s, but the rise is occurring at a faster rate now, something like six to eight inches over the past century — compared to almost nothing during the previous two millennia. This already poses a threat to densely populated coastal areas — in the U.S., about 40 percent of the population, or some 120 million people, live directly on the shoreline.
And that’s without the very real potential of melting glacial and polar ice, with calamitous results. It’s not just that this would affect coastal cities, it would also scramble the geopolitical order as nations like the U.S., Canada, and Russia vie for control over the sea lanes and newly exposed natural resources.
I’m not mentioning all this to be alarmist. My point is that dealing with climate change constitutes a huge, looming challenge to government. And because Americans are fairly divided in their beliefs about climate change — a division reflected in sharp partisan disagreements — policy-makers struggle to come up with politically viable approaches. This makes the adverse impacts of climate change potentially much worse, since doing nothing is clearly a recipe for greater disaster.
The problem is that politicians in Washington like to talk about climate change in general, yet we haven’t seen any concerted consensus-building effort to deal with it. Occasionally you’ll see bills being considered in Congress to study it more, but unless we get real, this will dramatically change our way of life.
And despite the growing impact of extreme weather, the opposition’s point — that policies to fight climate change will impose hardship on working people, especially in manufacturing states — still has some merit and political legs. In response to inaction in Congress and the administration, some states have taken important steps to address climate change, even though it’s best dealt with on the federal level.
Still, newer members of Congress appear to have more of an interest in addressing climate change than older, senior members. And the issue holds particular resonance for younger millennial voters, whose political influence will only grow over coming elections.
Only recently have thoughtful politicians I talk to begun to ask whether the political system can deal with the challenges posed by climate change before its impact becomes unstoppable. The one thing we agree on is that climate change and how to deal with it will place real stress on the system in the years ahead.
Lee Hamilton is a senior advisor for the Indiana University (IU) Center on Representative Government, distinguished scholar at the IU School of Global and International Studies, and professor of practice at the IU School of Public and Environmental Affairs. Hamilton, a Democrat, was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives for 34 years, representing a district in south central Indiana.
Bowers & Company CPAs, PLLC has named NATE CARROLL a partner in the accounting firm. He is a tax specialist with the Watertown branch and specializes in small business. Carroll graduated from West Virginia University with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and his MPA in 2010. He became a licensed CPA in 2012. Carroll
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Bowers & Company CPAs, PLLC has named NATE CARROLL a partner in the accounting firm. He is a tax specialist with the Watertown branch and specializes in small business. Carroll graduated from West Virginia University with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and his MPA in 2010. He became a licensed CPA in 2012. Carroll began his professional career with Nagy & Croniser CPAs of Lowville before joining Bowers & Company in 2014.
Pinckney Hugo Group has hired KATIE LYNN as an account manager, CONNOR FERGUSON as a digital media strategist, and BRIGID CORCORAN as an assistant digital strategist. Prior to joining Pinckney Hugo Group, Lynn worked in account services and public relations at Tractenberg & Co. and The Baddish Group in New York City. She has a
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Pinckney Hugo Group has hired KATIE LYNN as an account manager, CONNOR FERGUSON as a digital media strategist, and BRIGID CORCORAN as an assistant digital strategist. Prior to joining Pinckney Hugo Group, Lynn worked in account services and public relations at Tractenberg & Co. and The Baddish Group in New York City. She has a bachelor’s degree in mass communication with a concentration in public relations from Iona College. Ferguson gained experience working in media at Universal McCann in New York City and iHeartMedia in Rochester. He has a bachelor’s degree in interpersonal communications from The College at Brockport. Corcoran previously worked at Worldways social marketing in Newport, Rhode Island. She has a bachelor’s degree in public relations from the University of Rhode Island.
Solvay Bank has named ANDRE HERRERA as assistant VP, branch manager of its North Syracuse branch. He has more than 20 years of experience in the financial services industry. Herrera is a graduate of the University of Texas at San Antonio.
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Solvay Bank has named ANDRE HERRERA as assistant VP, branch manager of its North Syracuse branch. He has more than 20 years of experience in the financial services industry. Herrera is a graduate of the University of Texas at San Antonio.
Cayuga Strategic Solutions, the joint venture of the Cayuga County Chamber of Commerce and the Cayuga Economic Development Agency has named BEONCA LOUIS as the new communications coordinator. She serves as a welcome center for all affiliate organizations. Louis studied psychology & theatre arts in college.
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Cayuga Strategic Solutions, the joint venture of the Cayuga County Chamber of Commerce and the Cayuga Economic Development Agency has named BEONCA LOUIS as the new communications coordinator. She serves as a welcome center for all affiliate organizations. Louis studied psychology & theatre arts in college.
Hartwick College has named DR. WILLIAM J. EHMANN provost and VP for academic affairs, effective July 1, 2019, concludes a four-month national search. He was most recently provost and VP for academic affairs at Marymount University in Arlington, Virginia. He succeeds Dr. Michael G. Tannenbaum, who is retiring after serving in the role for 10
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Hartwick College has named DR. WILLIAM J. EHMANN provost and VP for academic affairs, effective July 1, 2019, concludes a four-month national search. He was most recently provost and VP for academic affairs at Marymount University in Arlington, Virginia. He succeeds Dr. Michael G. Tannenbaum, who is retiring after serving in the role for 10 years. Ehmann will join Hartwick after a lengthy career at private liberal arts and public institutions of higher education across the country. He served two tenures with Mercy College in Dobbs Ferry and spent three years as associate provost for programs and planning, and later became the college’s interim associate provost. He also served at two other upstate New York institutions. At SUNY Plattsburgh, he was assistant to the provost & VP for academic affairs and as an associate dean at Empire State College in Saratoga Springs. Ehmann earned his bachelor’s degree in earth sciences from the University of Notre Dame and a master’s degree from Brown University in geological sciences, and obtained his Ph.D. in biology-ecology from Utah State University. Before his career in academia, Ehmann spent four years as a geologist with the U.S. Department of Interior and was also a member of the NASA Space Shuttle Program Mission Specialist pool for 20 years.
CPL has hired MULEKEZI LOÏC SEBUHARARA for the plumbing engineering team in its Binghamton office. With more than a decade of industry experience, he will focus on the design of plumbing and fire-protection systems. Prior to joining CPL, Sebuharara served as mechanical engineer at Delta Engineers. He has a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from
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CPL has hired MULEKEZI LOÏC SEBUHARARA for the plumbing engineering team in its Binghamton office. With more than a decade of industry experience, he will focus on the design of plumbing and fire-protection systems. Prior to joining CPL, Sebuharara served as mechanical engineer at Delta Engineers. He has a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University at Buffalo and is a certified LEED green associate.
After spending two years in Metabolic’s New York Capital Region market, Syracuse native JOSH SWEARINGEN has returned to help establish the fitness company’s first location in Central New York. As a certified personal trainer and newly named head trainer for Metabolic’s Liverpool fitness center, he brings experience working in large box gyms, small boutique fitness
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After spending two years in Metabolic’s New York Capital Region market, Syracuse native JOSH SWEARINGEN has returned to help establish the fitness company’s first location in Central New York. As a certified personal trainer and newly named head trainer for Metabolic’s Liverpool fitness center, he brings experience working in large box gyms, small boutique fitness studios, and one-on-one strength and conditioning training. Swearingen recently completed his certificate for Fitness Nutrition Specialist (FNS) from the National Academy of Sports Medicine. He holds additional certifications in nutrition, corrective exercise, and flexibility training.
Reagan Companies has added SEAN REAGAN to its staff. He is the great-grandson of James F. Reagan, who founded the firm in 1929. Reagan has a bachelor’s degree in accounting and a master’s degree in taxation both from Bentley University. He was previously the tax manager at RSM International, an accounting firm in Boston, Massachusetts.
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Reagan Companies has added SEAN REAGAN to its staff. He is the great-grandson of James F. Reagan, who founded the firm in 1929. Reagan has a bachelor’s degree in accounting and a master’s degree in taxation both from Bentley University. He was previously the tax manager at RSM International, an accounting firm in Boston, Massachusetts.
Bond, Schoeneck & King has hired MEGAN K. THOMAS in its Syracuse office as an attorney in its school districts practice. Thomas previously worked for Sugarman Law Firm in Syracuse, according to her LinkedIn profile. At Bond, Thomas advocates for school districts in addressing their legal issues and providing counsel. She was a 2008 Teach
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Bond, Schoeneck & King has hired MEGAN K. THOMAS in its Syracuse office as an attorney in its school districts practice. Thomas previously worked for Sugarman Law Firm in Syracuse, according to her LinkedIn profile. At Bond, Thomas advocates for school districts in addressing their legal issues and providing counsel. She was a 2008 Teach for America Corps member and taught special education and general education at both traditional public and charter schools prior to attending law school. Thomas received degrees from the Syracuse University Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs (M.P.A., 2017) and Syracuse College of Law (J.D., 2017), as well as UNLV (master’s degree in education, 2010) and Marist College (bachelor’s degree, 2008).
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