This week in climate change, the New Hampshire primary left the GOP field even slimmer with the departure of former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.
The weekend before the primary, Christie gave a long explanation of his position on climate change and how he envisions the U.S. tackling the issue.
“I’m a candidate in this race who has said I believe climate change is real and I believe human activity contributes to it,” Christie said. “So now, what do we do is the question.”
Christie explained the approach he took in New Jersey, embracing not only solar power but also nuclear power “to broaden the way we develop our electricity with an eye toward making sure that we protect our environment.”
Former Florida governor Jeb Bush similarly took the weekend before the primary to outline his position on climate change.
“Global warming is real, the climate is changing… and man has had some impact on that,” Bush said. “I’m not a denier I think conservatives lose ground when we don’t embrace technology and science. Why wouldn’t we want to embrace the things that enhance our lives?”
“The federal government should play a role both in research and development to identify the next disruptive technologies it could bring about for renewable energy, as well as they should be focused on providing support for communities as they adapt to the new reality of a changing climate.” Bush edged out fellow Floridian Sen. Marco Rubio for fourth place in the first-in-the-nation primary.
Rubio was frequently asked for his approach to combatting climate change, including by a voter whose millennial-aged daughters self-identify as Republicans who care about climate change.
“OK, well the climate has always changed. I don’t mean that facetiously,” Rubio said in response. “There’s never been a time when the climate is identical. It’s always changing.” Rubio indicated his favored approach over legislative or regulatory solutions is to spur innovation. “We have to fully utilize all of our energy resources and that includes biofuels, renewables, all of that stuff, but we can’t destroy our economy,” Rubio said.
Rubio also told a fisherman from Miami who had traveled to New Hampshire to talk about the dire impacts of sea level rise that he “[supports] mitigation” of rising sea levels. “I think there are things we need to do to mitigate the impact that [sea level rise] is having.”
Rubio continued by reiterating, “I think you can be pro-economy and pro-environment, but you have to do it in a way that is responsible for both.”
A Republican debate with the trimmed down field is set for Saturday night in Greenville, SC. The South Carolina primary is scheduled for February 20th. As always, if you see something, say something. Email us with any video footage you have of the candidates addressing this important issue.