Before you embark upon your Independence Day (week?) festivities, take a moment to catch up with these must reads.
First, straight talk from the EcoRight community:
Republicans must return to their conservation roots by Andy Sabin (Washington Examiner): “It’s high time the party of Teddy Roosevelt reclaims the environment, redefines the narrative, and leverages good old-fashioned American know-how and innovation. As Roosevelt once said, ‘Conservation is a great moral issue, for it involves the patriotic duty of insuring the safety and continuance of the nation.'”
Taxing carbon emissions protects liberty, spurs innovation by Josiah Neeley and (new republicEn.org spokesperson) Emily Collins (Texas Tribune): “People who make a mess should bear the costs of doing so that’s personal responsibility. While there are many unknowns in the climate debate, the fact that carbon emissions pose risks is hard to deny. According to a statement unanimously signed by members of the Atmospheric Sciences Department at Texas A&M, greenhouse gas emissions are very likely making the planet warmer, and “continued rising temperatures risk serious challenges for human society.” Unlike the environmental left, which seeks to end all use of fossil fuels, a carbon tax would simply keep emitters from imposing the costs of their actions on non-consenting third parties.”
Next, to rally your determination to win:
Conservative groups rally GOP opposition to a carbon tax (The DC Caller) “The American Energy Alliance (AEA), a nonprofit advocacy group, is partnering with other free-market organizations to urge the House of Representatives to pass a resolution that would put lawmakers on record as opposed to a carbon tax.” (Which leads us to scratch our heads and ask why so much effort to stage opposition…. are they scared of the building conservative support for a carbon tax?)
And finally, an oldie but a goodie, why climate change doesn’t care if you “believe” it in (h/t to Katharine Hayhoe):
The bottom line is this: it makes sense to argue over differing opinions on pipelines + carbon taxes + climate policies. But gravity doesn’t care what we believe about it, and neither does climate change.
It’s real, it’s us, it’s serious–and there are solutions.
Katharine Hayhoe (@KHayhoe) July 2, 2018
Happy Fourth of July!
