‘Red, white, and blue issue’: Expert says GOP taking a seat at climate solutions table
Steff Thomas
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While it may surprise some that Republicans are acknowledging that the climate is changing, one energy expert says it’s important that they have a seat at the negotiating table.
Heather Reams, president of the nonprofit organization Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions, told the Washington Examiner that fighting climate change is not “red” or “blue,” but a “red, white, and blue issue,” and GOP lawmakers are poised to join the conversation as they take over the House majority in 2023.
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“This is a global problem that needs global solutions,” Reams said on the Plugged In podcast, adding that she is “optimistic about how Republicans are going to engage in this next Congress and thinking about lowering emissions that benefit us all.”
President Joe Biden and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle were present at the COP27 conference in Egypt last month. Reams, who led a delegation to the climate conference, said they made sure Republicans were able to speak up.
“Republicans brought a very different message,” she said, detailing the GOP panel “talking about the efficiencies that the United States can bring to creating energy and then exporting it worldwide.”
The United States’s natural gas has a lower emissions profile than other countries, including Russia. She said other countries have been able to lower their emissions profiles by importing U.S. energy.
GOP solutions focus on how policymaking can enhance global innovation, Reams said. That has opened up questions such as how do you reward countries for cleaning up their emissions? And how do you punish those that continue to pollute, such as China?
She said the dialogue is still open on these discussions, but that’s where the executive branch comes in with trade policy. The answer is not just writing blank checks, Reams added.
The veteran climate expert pointed out that Republicans’ goals are a three-legged stool, looking at the cost of energy, the abundance of energy, and protecting the environment.
“I do think there will be oversight on how money is spent and making sure it’s done in a responsible way,” she noted.
When asked about potential House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s efforts in the space, Reams said he was an “incredible facilitator of discussions” and touted his moves to create a balance between progressives and more moderate Democrats.
Protection of the planet is also something that resonates with both rural farmers and suburban voters, she quipped, adding that while it’s a complicated issue, it needs to be articulated clearly.
“They’re thinking about what kind of world, what kind of Earth they’re leaving for their children, for their grandchildren, and where their responsibility lies,” Reams said.
“And taking care of our planet is one of those pieces. I know that’s what’s got me motivated to do the work I do now, she added.
Reams said anyone running in 2024 for president or any Republican Party ticket will have to craft a position recognizing that climate change exists and producing rules on how to reduce emissions.
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“If any candidate is serious about winning, not only [as] the nominee for the Republican Party, but actually winning in 2024, [they] gotta be there on climate change. Gotta have a plan,” she said.
“Gotta be thinking about how we in the United States can lead globally,” Reams added.
Plugged In, hosted by former Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Chairman Neil Chatterjee and energy reporter Breanne Deppisch, brings on key players, from lawmakers to federal employees and industry experts, to keep our audience up to speed on the latest energy issues facing the country and the planet.
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