Conservatives embrace climate change---at last
Utah Rep. John Curtis Reframes Climate Policy for House Republicans
This story starts in Utah’s House District 3. The district includes Salt Lake City and a large region to the east and south of it. It’s solidly Republican, 55% Mormon, and one of the youngest districts in the country with a median age of 28.7 years.
With this profile, you wouldn’t think District 3 would have much impact on national climate policy. But it has. Mostly because of John Curtis, who represents District 3 in Congress.
When Curtis ran for office and met with voters he faced a persistent question: “How would he address the climate crisis?”
The standard Republican answer to that question was: “The climate crisis is a hoax” or “The climate is changing due to natural cycles. Human activity is not the cause.”
Neither of these answers satisfied the voters in District 3.
So Curtis decided to look into it. He talked to people. He researched. He engaged in conversations with people from the far left to the far right.
He found that many House Republicans were facing the same voter questions. With obvious changes in the weather and continuous pressure from activists, there was a need for better answers.
So Curtis created a new climate platform that fits with conservative values. After all he says, “The environment has always been a Republican issue.” Here he’s referring to the national parks created by Roosevelt in the early 1900s, and the major environmental laws signed by Nixon in the 1970s.
In Curtis’s view, denying climate change is too extreme. So is shutting down our fossil fuel based economy all at once.
He realized the words “climate change” had become toxic to Republicans. To them these words are associated with ruining the economy, over regulating business, and sacrificing the American way of life.
So he reframed the issue to focus on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. In his view, this is the problem to be solved and should be the goal of conservative climate policy.
Curtis established three guiding principles for climate policy solutions: they must be affordable, they must be reliable, and they must be clean. If these criteria are met, then a policy is worthy of Republican support.
With his framework in place, Curtis was then able to create the Conservative Climate Caucus (CCC). It launched in 2021 with 52 members.
Now the Caucus has over 80 members, making it the second largest in the House. New caucus leadership was announced in January, assuring succession and longevity.
Curtis’ work is good progress. But you may ask, has the Caucus actually done anything? Or is it just a talking shop to make it appear that they are listening to voters?
Like most caucuses, the CCC is mostly focused on education. But it did send a delegation to the COP 28 climate negotiations in Dubai last fall.
Critics called this a “sell out.” But Caucus members said they wanted a seat at the table. For the first time Republican politicians outnumbered Democrats at the negotiations.
Curtis and the CCC also supported the Lower Energy Costs Act which reduces greenhouse gas emissions and supports clean energy technologies. The bill is a mixed bag of permitting, leasing and oversight changes---not all of which are supported by environmentalists on the left.
But its passage in the House illustrates the power of the CCC. It passed with bi-partisan support in March 2023.
The Lower Energy Costs Act illustrates an important function of the Caucus: it provides cover and support to Republicans who initiate and support climate policies. Republicans now have a way to talk about climate, weigh in on proposals, and propose solutions.
Perhaps Curtis had this in mind when he founded the caucus. I say this because he’s become an initiator of environmental legislation. Some of his bills include streamlining geothermal development, and protecting and conserving public lands.
The Caucus is truly a breakthrough—for two reasons. First, it’s proof that environmental activism makes a difference. Without the persistent pressure of climate activists in Utah and elsewhere, the Caucus would never have been born. Citizen voices matter.
Second, the Caucus opens the door that was once shut tight by climate denial. Coming together with Democrats and finding bi-partisan support for climate policy was once thought impossible. But that door has now cracked open.
It will take more work and discussion before far reaching climate legislation can be enacted. But with the Conservative Climate Caucus in place, we are much closer than we were just a few years ago. Stay tuned!
See an interview with Rep. John Curtis HERE
Rep. John Curtis website HERE
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Should Earth Day Be a National Holiday?
Imagine how cool it would be to make Earth Day a school and work holiday where everyone spends the day outdoors celebrating the earth. We could be out playing, hiking and cycling. We could be cleaning up our roadsides and shoreline. We could be planting and tending gardens.
The earth supports us with air to breathe, water to drink, and food to nourish our bodies. Without the balancing cycles of light and dark, and dryness and moisture, we would not be here. Insects pollinate plants. Bacteria, fungi and earth worms convert waste into nutrients. A day to honor and celebrate all the earth provides makes good sense.
Earth Day is Monday April 22. It’s the 54th anniversary of the first Earth Day which took place on April 22, 1970.
Why not create an Earth Day celebration for yourself? You could:
Enjoy the outdoors by exploring a place that is new to you.
Spend some time recycling items that you no longer need.
Make it a fossil free day. Instead of driving, sitting in heated or air conditioned spaces, or using plastics, spend your time breathing the fresh air and enjoying your neighborhood and community.
Truth in Recycling Labeling
Maine legislators have taken the lead by introducing LD 295, a bill that would require manufacturers to tell the truth about recyclability of plastics. The chasing arrows label does not mean that a plastic is recyclable. What it does mean is that people put tons of nonrecyclable plastics into recycle bins. This contaminates the waste and adds extra sorting costs to the recycling process. The Maine bill is based on a California law.
Maine lawmakers are now considering LD 295. Contact your local representative and urge them to pass this bill.
Don’t know your representative? You can find them HERE.
This is that rare book that speaks not only to environmental students but to all people who care about their future. Advocating for the Environment gives us the guidance we need to take action for a vibrant and healthy future. -George Lakey, author, professor and activist.
Available in paperback, audio book and ebook.
Order HERE
Sue Inches, a great summary of the positive potential in Curtis' Conservative Climate Caucus. We need to reach to them and engage them. We at Citizens Climate Lobby are trying that. Hard.
This is a great article and describes an encouraging development that I’ve heard nothing about it in the media. Thank you.