23 January, 2024

Carl Nasman in Manchester, New Hampshire  Hello and welcome to Future Earth. This week I'm coming to you from New Hampshire, where I've been covering the latest developments in the presidential primaries. Despite the extreme cold snap gripping the US, the topic of climate change has barely been mentioned on the campaign trail. But as you'll read below, Republicans and Democrats aren't as divided on the subject as you might think. Plus, we'll explore how Sweden is future-proofing skiing and learn some easy tricks to keep your EV running in the extreme cold.  CLIMATE CONVERSATION Why voters want more talk on climate change The majority of American voters would prefer a presidential candidate who supports climate action. Credit: Getty Images One unusual moment that's stuck with me from my two weeks on the campaign trail in the Republican primaries so far, was when Ron DeSantis' bus froze over in Arkeny, Iowa, last week. The front of the blue-and-red "never back down" bus was thickly coated with icicles dripping over its front bumper, as these pictures show.    To say it's been cold in much of the US is an understatement. In Iowa last week my ear got windburn after about 15 minutes of standing outside reporting. And while the punishing weather meant turnout was lower than expected in Iowa, it certainly didn't stop Donald Trump's base from delivering a commanding victory.    The cold weather that has brought temperatures that are 25F (13.9C) below typical figures in parts of the country is driven by the polar jet stream, which draws frigid Arctic air to the south. Above the polar jet stream is the stratospheric polar vortex – a niche term making its way into more widespread use in recent years, especially when temperatures plummet.   The relationship between weather on the ground and the polar vortex is a complex one to say the least, but what's certain at the moment is that the latter is behaving very strangely, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.   After a year that was the hottest on record, it might seem surprising that this winter's weather is currently so bitterly cold. While it's not possible to be certain if every unique weather event is driven by climate change, researchers at the University of Massachusetts Lowell have found a link between the effects of climate change in the Arctic and the kind of disruptions to the polar vortex that cause extreme cold in the US. US voters are heading to the polls amid an extreme cold snap. Credit: Getty Images A bumper election year Today in New Hampshire, temperatures are a little less punishing – a mere 37F (2.8C). Here I'm continuing to ask the question that matters to an increasing number of voters, not just in the US but in many of the 64 countries set to go to the polls in this year of elections: what about climate change?   On the campaign trail so far there's been plenty of discussion of issues like inflation, immigration and the major conflicts gripping parts of the world. But it's struck me again and again over the past two weeks how rarely – if at all – the topic of climate change comes up.   Last week I asked Republican Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks, the vice-chair of the Conservative Climate Caucus, why she thought this was. "I think it's because people are worried about, are they going to have a better lifestyle with the next president?" says Miller-Meeks. "People are challenged right now by high prices: high fuel prices, high electricity, high food prices."   There are, however, a growing number of climate matters that are gaining a foothold across the political spectrum – among them nuclear power, improvements to the grid, and non-fossil methane sourced from livestock and other organic sources, Miller-Meeks notes.   "I think there is a conversation on all of those things, as we're looking to find common ground and move forward to have a cleaner, healthier planet, but [also] have affordable, abundant, reliable, secure energy which allows us to grow our economy and compete economically around the world." Voter priorities  Even in the polarised politics of the United States, there is demand for climate politics among voters.   According to a recent study by Yale University, 57% of American voters would prefer a candidate who supports action on climate change, compared to 16% who would rather vote for a candidate who opposes action.   And there is more agreement among Republicans and Democrats on climate action than you might think. For example, the same poll shows 85% of voters, including 67% of conservative Republicans, support government funding to help farmers sequester carbon.   With 2024 set to be the biggest election season ever, with almost half the world's population holding a national election, it's very much a global question. As I don my cold-weather gear again ahead of the results in New Hampshire, I'm looking forward to putting these questions to candidates once again.  -- Correction: In last week's newsletter Emily Faint of the British Standards Institution was incorrectly named as Emily Feist. We apologise for the error. NUMBER OF THE WEEK 4.5 million The number of trees spread out across Sheffield, a former industrial powerhouse in northern England famous for its blast furnaces and steel production, now enormously outnumber its human population of 550,000 people.  TAKE A MOMENT How does cold weather affect EVs?  When temperatures plummet, the driving range of electric vehicles can fall by up to 25% and batteries take longer to charge. Here are some easy ways to get the most from an EV during extreme cold snaps.  Watch to learn more  CLIMATE QUIZ New York is preparing to launch a congestion charge for vehicles entering below Manhattan's 60th Street. After decades of delays, and ongoing push-back from the state of New Jersey, the first-in-nation pricing plan aims to reduce city-centre traffic by 15-20%.    How many hours does the average New York driver spend stuck in traffic each year? A. 34 hours  B. 56 hours C. 102 hours Scroll to the bottom of this newsletter for the answer. THE BIG PICTURE The plastic oceans we can't see The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is thought to cover an area twice the size of Texas and contain at least 79,000 tonnes of ocean plastic. Credit: Shutterstock More than a thousand miles from the nearest land lies the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, a swirling vortex in the northern Pacific containing six times as much plastic as plankton. The highly mobile plastic soup is difficult to visualise using satellites and drones. In the absence of government action, environmental non-profits have led the clean-up efforts, using computer modelling to map the plastic hotspots and steer removal technology. They hope that an international plastics treaty, which will be negotiated this year, will help to prevent new plastics ending up in our oceans.  BEFORE YOU GO • Is nature better off without us? This is the question environmental journalist Tom Heap and physicist Helen Czerski explore in the first episode of the BBC Rare Earth podcast. • Business leaders gathered in Davos in Switzerland are discussing how to create a positive, proactive impact on the climate by rethinking and reinventing everything from business models to supply chains.  • What is the carbon footprint of your pet? Can green roofs increase the resilience of cities? How does war impact climate change? Listen to Grahaigh Jackson and a panel of experts' answers on The Climate Question. US Election Unspun newsletter Cut through the noise in the race for the White House, every Wednesday to your inbox. Sign up here AND FINALLY... In the face of rapidly rising temperatures and reduced snowfall, Swedish ski resorts are investing in innovative infrastructure to future-proof skiing. The ski town Torsby has constructed a 1.3km-long (4,265ft) concrete tunnel where you can enjoy cross-country skiing for eight months each year. The tunnel is kept cool by underground pipes covered in a layer of permafrost. Read here about Matilda Welin's experience of skiing through the Torsby ski tunnel.  Today's climate quiz answer was: C – 102 hours. According to New York governor Kathy Hochul, the working hours in the city lost by people sitting in traffic equate to around $20bn (£16bn) a year. Officials are hoping a experimental congestion charge on Manhattan's 60th Street can demonstrate the benefits of such measures and encourage commuters to choose public transport. And numerous other cities in the US are looking to follow suit, BBC Future Planet's India Bourke found out.