The Eco Right Speaks: A Candid Chat with Chelsea Henderson on Conservative Climate Change Action

Green Tea Party Radio

In this episode of Green Tea Radio, environmental policy expert Chelsea Henderson joins the hosts to discuss conservative perspectives on environmental issues, especially climate change. Chelsea is republicEn’s Director of Editorial Content, and host of the EcoRight Speaks podcast

Key Quotes

1. "You had this really interesting dynamic where you had Vice President Gore pushing for everglades restoration, Jeb Bush pushing for everglades restoration... We can do hard issues, even if we don't agree 100% on everything else around us."
2. "We know that some of the division, the divisiveness is amplified by the media and that, in our hearts, I think 80% of us agree on 80% of stuff."
3. "What banks are going to give mortgages to people who want to buy homes in Florida if there's no home insurance in Florida? We're talking about an issue that isn't just an environmental issue, it's an economic issue, it's a public health issue, it's an agricultural issue."
4. "Congressman John Curtis from Utah always says we have to be at the table or we're on the menu."

Key Quotes

1. "You had this really interesting dynamic where you had Vice President Gore pushing for everglades restoration, Jeb Bush pushing for everglades restoration... We can do hard issues, even if we don't agree 100% on everything else around us."
2. "We know that some of the division, the divisiveness is amplified by the media and that, in our hearts, I think 80% of us agree on 80% of stuff."
3. "What banks are going to give mortgages to people who want to buy homes in Florida if there's no home insurance in Florida? We're talking about an issue that isn't just an environmental issue, it's an economic issue, it's a public health issue, it's an agricultural issue."
4. "Congressman John Curtis from Utah always says we have to be at the table or we're on the menu."
5. "Where we come in @republicanEn.org is to try to say, hey, there are some free market, solutions out there that conservative economists say will work, by the way, you know what? People on the left will buy into them too."

Links

• ABC Breaking News 2000 Election December 12 Gore v. Bush Supreme Court Decision
• House of Representatives Conservative Climate Caucus the CCC believes climate change is a pressing issue, exacerbated by global industrialization, but solvable through private sector innovation and market-driven solutions that focus on emissions reduction rather than limiting energy options. On the action side, the organization educates House Republicans on climate policies aligned with conservative values, organizes delegations to understand related technologies and issues, conducts briefings on conservative climate proposals, and actively opposes radical progressive climate proposals.
• Losing Earth by Nathaniel Rich - This book focuses on the history of climate change activism, particularly in the '80s when the Senate began to look into the issue. Chelsea Henderson recommends it for those interested in the historical background of the climate change movement.
• One Green Thing by Heather White - Heather White is a friend of Chelsea and has also been a guest on "The Eco Right Speaks." Her book is aimed at helping individuals discover their "superpower" in climate activism by breaking down the issue into actionable tasks.
• Glacial: The Inside Story of Climate Politics by Chelsea Henderson. (August 2024)
• Citizens Climate Lobby Carbon Fee & Dividend policy proposal.

Chelsea explains that she initially fell into the environmental realm as she was assigned to cover environmental issues during her time on Capitol Hill with Senator Susan Collins. She later joined the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, where she worked on projects like the Everglades restoration and observed a more cooperative environment than what exists today. She believes the committee had many committed environmentalists, regardless of their party affiliations, but noticed that a shift occurred towards deregulation in the mid-90s, making the environment a more divisive issue.

Chelsea also argues that climate change should be seen as a conservative issue, emphasizing the economic, public health, and agricultural repercussions of ignoring the problem. She points out that transitioning to a clean energy economy is consistent with conservative values, such as property rights and risk aversion. Moreover, she sees the importance of conservatives coming to the table with their own solutions, particularly free-market solutions, rather than simply rejecting proposals from the left. Chelsea highlights that a united, bipartisan effort is essential to tackling the climate crisis effectively.

The episode also touched on specific policy approaches Chelsea supports, like carbon pricing and solar panels, as well as her upcoming book on climate politics. Overall, the conversation provides a comprehensive look at the complexities and possibilities for conservatives in the environmental conversation, urging for a return to cooperation and bipartisan solutions for the challenges ahead.

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