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Banner image: Rep. Joe Neguse (D-Colorado) speaks to the audience, alongside moderators Matt Burgess and Renae Marshall. (Credit Glenn Asakawa/CU Boulder
More than 150 people gathered at CU Boulder to hear from Joe Neguse, D.Colorado, and John Curtis (who joined virtually) about how finding common ground in politics can help combat the climate crisis.
The panel discussion on April 14th was hosted by Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences(CIRES) Bruce D. Benson Center for the Study of Western CivilizationThis article explored the motivations of lawmakers to work on climate change issues, where they see potential for building consensus, as well as their thoughts on how to reduce political polarization surrounding the issue.
Matt Burgess, assistant professor in environmental studies and economics, moderated the discussion. Renae Marsh, a former CIRES Fellow was also present.
“If we take seriously the idea of society-wide changes in energy and infrastructure sustained over decades, the only way that’s going to happen is if we work together,” said Burgess, to kick-off the discussion. “A divided society and government simply won’t be up to the challenge.”
Phil DiStefano, Chancellor of the Netherlands, highlighted the upcoming initiatives. Global Climate Summit – Right NowIt was held on campus December 1-4 and welcomed three CU Regents: Callie Rennison and Lesley Smith.
Here are some key takeaways from this event.
Climate action is what constituents want
Burgess says there is a broad bipartisan support for climate change.
In a recent op edBurgess and Marshall found that two-thirds believe the federal government doesn’t do enough to reduce climate change effects and protect water quality. Climate mitigation has been a winning issue in both progressive and conservative political parties in Western countries, such as the United Kingdom.
“There is still potential to make bipartisan progress on some of these issues, particularly as it relates to climate adaptation and mitigation,” said Neguse.
Top: Rep. John Curtis, R-Utah, speaks to the audience via Zoom. Bottom: Blake Lincoln, a political science undergraduate student, asks lawmakers a question. (Credit Glenn Asakawa/CU Boulder).
Bipartisanship passes climate bills
Recent papers by Marshall and Burgess were co-authored by Marshall and Marshall. Democrats and Republicans unite to pass more climate legislation.
It analysed 418 bills passed by the state government and 450 rejected bills. The goal was to reduce carbon emissions between 2015-2020. Their results showed that even though two-thirds of climate-related bills passed in Democrat-controlled legislatures during this time, one-third passed in Republican-controlled legislatures. They also found that about a third had co-sponsors representing both major parties. This suggests that there are still opportunities to achieve bipartisanship.
Burgess noted that there is more bipartisanship in climate than most people realize. He cited the Climate Solutions Caucus, which is a bipartisan caucus made up of U.S. legislators and supported by Citizens’ Climate Lobby. Burgess also cited the Climate Provisions in the COVID-19 infrastructure and stimulus bills.
Rep. Curtis highlighted the Energy Act of 2020, a bipartisan effort to reduce hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)—chemical refrigerants that contribute to global warming—by 85% over 15 years. It was passed by a Republican Senate and a Democratic House and signed by President Trump in December 2020. While it didn’t receive much media attention at the time, it is one of the most significant energy packages passed in the U.S. in the past decade, said Curtis.
“We don’t often tout enough our successes,” said Curtis. “There’s so much work to be done in the climate realm, that rarely do we look back and say, ‘oh good job.’ Usually the comment is more ‘well that wasn’t enough.’”
Politics don’t hinder youth participation
Young people of all stripes are concerned about climate change and want things done, according to Burgess—and there are many opportunities for young people to get involved, regardless of their political views.
This was evident by the fact that the event was attended by CU Boulder students on a Thursday morning. They accounted for about one-third the total in-person attendance. Several students asked questions during the Q&A and afterward, during a separate reception with Neguse.
Blake Lincoln, a political science undergraduate student, asked the lawmakers how we can address the cultural element of climate action—how it affects the economy, jobs and values that our families may have raised us with.
Curtis said that climate change must be addressed globally and not just in the U.S.
“Done right, we don’t need to lose U.S. jobs over this,” he said. “I think we can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and actually fuel our economy at the same time.”
Neguse positioned climate action as a matter of preserving our way of life, and if we want to preserve our lands and our enjoyable activities on them, “we ought to get serious about climate change.”
Common values can fuel shared goals
Burgess stressed that the panel discussion was not about arguing against opposing viewpoints, but rather discussing common ground.
“This is about consensus; we’re not having a debate,” he said, early in the event. “We’re trying to understand each other and work together.”
Curtis noted that Provo City, Utah (where he served as mayor) and Boulder, Colorado are both college towns surrounded with mountains and natural beauty. They have a lot of residents who love to see, recreate, and interact with their local landscapes.
Neguse echoed Curtis’s sentiments as a proud Coloradan, but also noted the fear that Coloradans and other western residents now face year-round about “what fire may very well develop over the next 12 hours,” referencing several fires burning across the state at the time.
The wildfires we’re experiencing today are more severe, pervasive, and intense than those we’ve experienced previously, Neguse said.
“You all know this in Colorado, we don’t have fire seasons anymore, we have fire years.”
Curtis and Neguse said that their common values, as well as the threats to them help motivate them when it comes climate action.
“We all have an innate desire to protect and preserve this Earth,” said Curtis. “Go to that and start working on a climate dialogue.”
The University of Colorado Boulder, a world leader in climate, energy and environmental research, has partnered with the United Nations Human Rights to host the event. Right Now, Global Climate SummitIn fall 2022.
