The White House on Tuesday released a massive report on climate change that states it's already happening and action must be taken now to blunt its impact.
While many Republicans are calling the report an alarmist political ploy, the White House said the conclusions are the most authoritative on the issue to date, and the report breaks down the impacts by region and state.
From super storm Sandy that caused regional devastation to the increasing frequency of local flooding and its side effects, the report concludes that climate change is happening now.
"It's here today," said Dan Utech, special adviser to the president on climate and energy. "This is not something that we are talking about 20, 30, 40 years from now. We are already dealing with climate change today."
Utech was speaking at St. Anselm College on Tuesday as the report was released. The report said New Hampshire can expect more rain, stronger storm systems, more coastal erosion and flooding, poorer air quality and more.
"Changes in the growing season, stresses on infrastructure -- so there is a whole range of impacts that are specific to here in the Northeast," Utech said.
The issue now becomes what to do about it, and the experts at St. Anselm College found themselves on the receiving end of some pointed questions, particularly about the cost to consumers who may have to pay more for energy.
"You need to basically step up and pay the price now because it will be at least two to four times greater if you do nothing," said Michael Simpson, environmental studies expert.
Many insist climate change needs to be a central issue every election because it's directly related to jobs, the economy and quality of life.
"We are experiencing it now," said Curt Spalding, regional administrator for the Environmental Protection Agency. "It's going to get worse, so it better be an important part of any big campaign in New England or beyond."
The report said it's not too late to avoid the worst effects of climate change as long as action is taken now.