In Politico’s recent episodes of Global Translations podcast, Delaware Democratic Senator Chirs Coons mentioned that during meets and conversations with some GOP Senators, he said that some agree that action on climate change must be taken. In light of those behind- the-door conversations, the Delaware Senator is believes that there is an increasing possibility that Congress will pass legislation on climate actions this year,
Regarded as one of the top deal makers in Senate, Sen. Coons said that in his observations since he first came to Capitol Hill in 2010, Republican senators have shown gradual shifts on their reactions toward problems caused by climate change.
According to the senator, they are now posing questions whether climate change was caused by humans, rather than straightforwardly deny that changes in the world’s climate are occurring. In fact their lines of questioning have moved to queries on what can be done about climate change without harming the country’s own economy.
Although most Republican lawmakers’ candidness over the issue of climate change happen behind closed doors, some senior Senate Republicans, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell have openly acknowledged that human activity has been a driving force of climate change.
Factors that Influenced Republican Views about Climate Change
Based on past podcast interviews, Politico surmises that the tonal shift came after the federal government report gave warnings that by mid-century, and across all US.regions, hundreds of billions of dollars will be incurred annually in order to address problems caused by climate change. Add to that the warning issued last year by the United Nations, about the need to achieve zero-emissions by mid-century in order to avoid the worst harms that climate change can bring.
Senator Coons also attribute the shift in attitude among corporate leaders and their concerns for the sustainability of their businesses, as factors that have been driving increased climate discussions among Republican politicians. He added that during the past years, CEOs have been conveying how their business projections include considerations about carbon costs; and of worsening, as well as increasing number of climate-related catastrophes brought on by natural calamities like storms, tornadoes and wildfires.
Senator Coons also shared information about an instance when more than seventy (70) CEOs came to lobby at Capitol Hill on a bipartisan nature. Although he and other members of Congress convened with about seven of them in an off-the-record conversation, the Democratic Senator is happy to note that the Republican House Members and Senators who joined in the conversation were constructive in their opinions during discussions about corporate concerns over climate change.