Republicans

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Senate Votes to Block Obama’s Climate Change Rules.

Davenport, C. (2015, November 17). Senate Votes to Block Obama’s Climate Change Rules. Retrieved November 18, 2015, from http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/18/us/politics/senate-blocks-obamas-climate-change-rules.html?_r=0

The Senate voted Tuesday to block new environmental legislation that was supported by President Obama. They passed two resolutions: one to remove a rule that would cut carbon emissions from coal-fired power plants, and one to remove a rule halting construction of more coal-fired power plants. Both passed 52-46. Three Democrats from states with a strong coal industry broke party lines to vote for the resolutions. However, two Republicans voted for them. Obama has promised to veto the bills, citing environmental concerns. This move by the Senate weakens Obama’s negotiating power in Paris on November 30, where he will attempt to broker a historic climate change agreement between all nations. The President hopes to get all countries to commit to policies that would reduce global warming.

This article relates to the political aspect of environmental science. Scientists can identify all the environmental problems they want, but a strong political presence is needed in order to achieve solutions. Unfortunately, the coal industry has strong lobbying power and holds a lot of influence in Congress. Republicans don’t want an agreement to be reached, because if it is, the Republicans would look like they are behind the times. If all countries agree to stop climate change, that would validate its existence in the minds of the American public. The Republicans would probably be forced to validate the treaty, since they would look un-American if they didn’t. The American voter values patriotism in their politicians, and would be less inclined to vote Republican if the Party doesn’t support the President in an international agreement. While these current shenanigans are largely underreported, refusing to support the President internationally would make America look weak to the world, and a strong America is a key plank on the Republican platform.

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Large Majority of Republicans Believe Climate Change is a threat

Davenport, C. (2015, September 28). Many Conservative Republicans Believe Climate Change Is a Real Threat. Retrieved November 22, 2015, from http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/29/us/politics/survey-of-republican-voters-shows-a-majority-believe-in-climate-change.html

 

A majority of Republicans believe climate change is real and is a threat. More than 54% of polled self-described conservative Republicans agree that climate action should be taken. This majority directly contrasts the Republicans running for president where only two serious candidates have called for climate related action and only one candidate over all would fight climate change if elected. What more than seventy-five percent of Americans call man-made climate change, Donald Trump calls weather.

I think that this is a good sign for the future of this country. Climate change is becoming a real issue. Republicans are at odds with those chosen to represent them, and as discontentment grows, the Republican leaders will need to start changing their views to attract votes. The growing belief in climate change is promising overall because as more people believe, more people will take action. If the next president is able to take serious climate action, the United States could be a world leader in that regard.