Free enterprise is the quickest fix to our climate challenge
By Darren Bingham
Not to be left out of all the talk about climate change news, Republicans are starting to make a stand on the issue. Bob Dylan says it best: “For the times they are a-changin.’” Recently, 11 U.S. House Republicans proposed a legislative draft to address climate change called The Gibson Resolution.
Congressman Gibson of New York had this to say: “All too often, the conversation about appropriate and balanced environmental stewardship gets caught up in partisan politics. Yet, this conversation is key to the preservation of our great country for generations to come, as important as ensuring we have fiscally responsible policies to secure our future.”
These Republicans believe they can protect our environment without hurting our economy which is wonderful news for the entire movement. As conservative ideals are used to address climate change, more issues will be solved than created.
On an even better note, four U.S. Senate Republicans came out last week with the announcement to form an Energy and Environment Working Group that will focus on ways we can protect our environment and climate. This group will meet periodically to talk about general energy and environmental issues and exchange ideas about potential legislation.
Senator Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire said, “The Energy and Environment Working Group will be a way for us to bring people together and start an ongoing conversation about these topics – like how we can best protect our environment and climate, pursue common sense and market-based reforms to grow our economy, and promote cleaner energy production.”
By using free market ideals to address climate challenges, Americans will create both jobs and greener infrastructure. Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina sums up why he supports the need to embrace this change. “I’m tired of sending hundreds of billions of dollars to buy oil from people who hate us. We must have energy independence. And in the process, I believe it is possible to produce a safe, clean environment, and create new well-paying jobs for Americans of all generations.”
With states like Iowa producing over 25 percent of its annual energy usage from wind, it really brings new meaning to Bob Dylan singing, “the answer my friend, is blowin’ in the wind.”
If you don’t want to listen to those Republicans, then maybe what former Utah governor Jon M. Huntsman Jr. says will change your mind. In a New York Times article last May, he says,” denying the science will only hinder” Republicans’ chance for success and that “Republicans need to get back to our foundational roots as catalysts for innovation and problem solving.”
We need to plan for the impacts of climate change at all levels of government. We need to empower Republicans leading those efforts to make decisions and investments that benefit their constituents, the party and the planet. The facts are: the climate is changing and failing to deal with this reality leaves us vulnerable.
Because climate change affects everybody, that’s the reason why everyone should care.
If you want to make a difference, learn your ecological footprint.