It’s finally Thursday in a week where everyday felt like Thursday. Here’s the what’s what in the climate week so far…
Ex-cabinet member pushes carbon tax: reporting by E&E News, former President George W. Bush Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson, who has advocated for climate change action since leaving office in 2009, spoke at a closed-door meeting of the House Climate Solutions Caucus, last week on Capitol Hill, where he made a case for swift climate action, potentially through a carbon tax.
Caucus amps up activity: The above mentioned caucus has distinguished itself of late with growing membership and increased activity. Co-founders and Florida delegation mates Rep. Carlos Curbelo and Rep. Ted Deutch are transitioning the group into a more active legislative force, and to that end, a package of eight climate bills was also presented at the Paulson meeting. Last week, all but two caucus members fended off an attack on climate-related provisions of the National Defense Authorization Act.
The Governator speaks: Former California Governor (and passionate eco-righter) Arnold Schwarzenegger spoke on the record about his reaction to a vote to extend the state’s carbon emissions reduction policies and the Republican support that made the victory possible. “This could be a really great inspiration for other Republicans around the country. To look at this and say they had the guts to do something that is right. Why don’t we try to do what is right, not just what is right for the party, but what is right for the people?” He said. Read the entire interview here.
States act: Republican Vermont Gov. Phil Scott today is scheduled to create a “climate change commission” to help “identify steps the state must take to achieve the state’s renewable energy and greenhouse gas emission goals while maintaining a focus on affordability and the economy,” according to the governor’s office.
Going to the Vatican? Callista Gingrich, the nominee for ambassador to the Vatican, stated this week in a confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that President Donald Trump “wants to maintain that we have clean air and clean water and that the United States remains an environmental leader,” while also testifying that she only “looked at some” of Pope Francis’s encyclical on the environment and climate change. She told committee members she believes the climate is changing and that “some of it is due to human behavior” and that “If confirmed, I look forward to working with Holy See as the United States pursues a balanced approach to climate policy.” She is married to former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich.
Stay tuned for any breaking news and tomorrow’s Week En Review. Don’t melt in the meantime.