The Challenge
Climate Instability + The Risk of Bad Policy + A Political Liability
A Moment for Republican Leadership
“For Such a Time as This”
(Esther 4:14)
#1: Climate Instability
A Threat to the American Way of Life
“Significant Impact On the Economy”
According to a 2018 Trump Administration report, “the impacts of climate change are being felt across the country, and ‘extreme weather and climate-related events” are going to worsen in the years to come—with a significant impact on the economy.”
US Intelligence Officials Sound the Alarm
A 2019 US intelligence report warned that climate hazards “are intensifying, threatening infrastructure, health, and water and food security.”
Risks to the American Homeland
From the Fourth National Climate Assessment (Released by the Trump Administration)
Agriculture
“Rising temperatures, extreme heat, drought, wildfire on rangelands, and heavy downpours are expected to increasingly disrupt agricultural productivity in the United States.”
Economy
“Climate change is expected to cause growing losses to American infrastructure and property and impede the rate of economic growth.”
Infrastructure
“Climate change will continue to degrade infrastructure performance…with the potential for cascading impacts that threaten our economy, national security, essential services, and health and well-being.”
Water
“The quality and quantity of water available for use by people and ecosystems across the country are being affected by climate change, increasing risks and costs to agriculture, energy production, industry, recreation, and the environment.”
Health
“Impacts from climate change on extreme weather and climate-related events, air quality, and the transmission of disease through insects and pests, food, and water increasingly threaten the health and well-being of the American people.”
Rural Livelihoods
“Expected increases in challenges to livestock health, declines in crop yields and quality, and changes in extreme events in the United States and abroad threaten rural livelihoods, sustainable food security, and price stability.”
While the precise consequences of climate instability remain uncertain, the risks are too grave to ignore.
A Dangerous Game of Dice
Doing nothing about climate change is “radical risk-taking.”
-Hank M. Paulson Jr. (Secretary of Treasury to President George W. Bush)
“A Reagan Approach to Climate Change”
"Before you get mugged by reality, take out an insurance policy. It’s the Reagan way."
-George P. Shultz (Secretary of State to President Ronald Reagan)
#2: Bad Policy
The Green New Deal: A Partisan “Climate Plan”
Don’t Take Our Word For It
“The interesting thing about the Green New Deal is it wasn’t originally a climate thing at all … we really think of it as a how-do-you-change-the-entire-economy thing.”
-AOC’s Fmr. Chief of Staff
A Vehicle for the Progressive Wish-List
“The Green New Deal is 1-part Green to 10-parts New Deal.”
-Jerry Taylor, Fmr. Vice President of the Cato Institute
“We don’t need big government to do big things. We are clear-eyed about the importance of ambitiously achieving emissions reductions, and equally clear-eyed about the power—and superiority—of a market-based solution.”
— Isaiah Mears, Chairman of the Indiana Federation of College Republicans
#3: A Political Liability
The Right Leadership in Demand
A Call for Republican Leadership
GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy “issued one stark warning for his party. He said younger voters are worried about climate change and cautioned that Republicans were risking their viability in elections over the long term by ignoring this critical issue.”
-The Washington Examiner (Oct 25, 2019)
A Political Liability
69% of Republican voters are concerned the party is "hurting itself with younger voters" over climate.
-Polling from Luntz Global (Founded by Legendary GOP Pollster Frank Luntz)
“We cannot be the party of the future without a plan to protect the future. Or without policy solutions that appeal to voters of the future.”
—Kiera O’Brien, Founding President of Young Conservatives for Carbon Dividends (YCCD)
A Return to Republican Roots
“If we don’t change our party’s position soon, our voters will punish us … If we want to show America that we’re the party of the future, then it’s time for all Republicans to return to their roots as champions of our environment.”
-Rep. Francis Rooney (R-FL19)
Pro-Innovation, Pro-Growth
“Republicans Have Better Solutions to Climate Change”
-Rep. Greg Walden (R-OR2), Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI6), and Rep. John Shimkus (R-IL15)
“Climate Change is a GOP VULNERABILITY and a GOP OPPORTUNITY."
Republican Strategy Memo from Luntz Global