Climate Change is Inevitable, Good Policy is Critical by CARLOS CURBELO In this era, in which we consume information from Twitter change has become a litmus test for whether they are honest and constant breaking-news alerts, it is challenging for leaders about the challenges we face, or just honest in general. to follow and respond thoughtfully to strategic challenges. In my case, it means we have to recognize that previous The population of the United States and the world is economic growth is correlated to increased greenhouse gas growing and changing. China is emerging as a global power, emissions and that we will need to break this relationship by while the European Union shows signs of weakening. Here, first understanding the costs of emitting greenhouse gasses forecasts show a fast-growing gap between expected federal into the atmosphere. Those costs can be measured in many revenue and obligations in coming decades. ways, and we will start seeing them in coastal property values, And the world is warming. mortgage and flood insurance rates, The average global temperature has infrastructure costs, and disaster already risen 2 degrees Fahrenheit assistance costs. since 1900 and is on track to Because I am motivated by rise between 5.2 and 6 degrees standards of living, I care deeply Fahrenheit by 2100. I, along with about economic growth. It is one of all Floridians, know that as the the reasons I became a proponent of oceans warm, they expand. In fact, a carbon tax, because economists sea levels are expected to rise 43 agree it is the most efficient way to inches by 2100. And that is without reduce greenhouse gas emissions. accounting for melting glaciers and And the revenue can be used to polar icecaps. replace other taxes or fund new At its core, climate change is American infrastructure. not political. The best adjective to But that may not be the describe it is inevitable. Blame for preferred solution for everyone. And the issue is diverse, most often on deciding what policies to support fossil fuels and extractive industries. is a challenge. Meaningful climate However, I think of it more as the policies have consequences, so they We have to recognize that consequence of our common desire will be controversial. Republicans previous economic growth have now discussed and introduced a for better lives and higher standards of living which has led us to develop number of policy proposals, and we is correlated to increased resources that have unintended need to be comfortable considering greenhouse gas emissions impacts on the environment. them all and eventually embracing and that we will need to Regardless, it cannot be some of them. ignored, and I am grateful that our It is time for a sober assessment break this relationship party has moved past its two-decadeof the consequences of climate by first understanding long “experiment” with climate change. We need an equally sober the costs of emitting denialism. House Republican assessment of what we can and Leader Kevin McCarthy, along with should do to mitigate it because greenhouse gasses into Reps. Greg Walden, Fred Upton, it certainly seems like our best the atmosphere. and Garret Graves, among others, bet now is simply to limit those deserve praise for their leadership consequences. Some damage may on the issue — particularly because taking the necessary, be unavoidable. “How much” is definitely up to us. RF early steps to return our party’s orthodoxy to one focused on stewardship of the environment took political courage. Carlos Curbelo was a member of the U.S. House of But that courage will be rewarded. The majority of voters Representatives representing Florida from 2015-2019, where — especially, as Leader McCarthy likes to remind us, younger he co-founded and co-chaired the House Climate Solutions voters — want their elected leaders to lead on this issue. For Caucus, and is currently an advisor to the Alliance for Market many voters, whether elected officials acknowledge climate Solutions. 10
RIPON FORUM August 2020
