“Called the ‘Republican Climate Resolution’ by supporters, the statement by House members takes about 450 words to mention conservative thought on environmentalism, support for climate science, feared impacts, and a call for economically viable policy. They pledge in general terms to support study and mitigation measures, ‘using our tradition of American ingenuity, innovation, and exceptionalism.’
“It’s essentially the same thing that was introduced in September 2015 by then-Representative Chris Gibson of New York. What’s changed since then is that almost 200 nations agreed to work to bring climate change under control, America elected a Republican president, Donald Trump, who seems determined not to, and the challenge itself grows continuously worse.”
Kudos to 17 conservative Republican members of Congress—10 of them in their first or second terms—who today announced their support for measures to reverse climate change “using our tradition of American ingenuity, innovation, and exceptionalism.”
The resolution was spearheaded by Elise Stefanik of New York, Carlos Curbelo of Florida, and Ryan Costello of Pennsylvania. Co-sponsors are from parts of the country on the front lines of climate change—southern Florida and eastern South Carolina, both threatened by rising sea levels; and northern Nevada and central Utah, where mountain snowpack has plummeted in recent decades.
The resolution follows February's carbon tax-and-rebate announcement endorsed by three former Republican U.S. Treasury secretaries.
Bottom line: You don’t have to be a Democrat to understand what’s happening to the environment and what must be done. Republicans in districts already affected by climate change are getting the message. It’s only a matter of time before the rest of the GOP gets it. Hopefully, they’ll get it before there’s no time left to save the planet.
By Eric Roston, Bloomberg
