August 4th, 2020
By: Ganon Evans
Republicans are currently tailing Democrats in terms of ambitious policies to fight the climate change crisis. As this issue becomes more and more prevalent, perhaps to the point of determining elections, the Republican party needs to step up to the plate with new ideas and talent to produce a definitive conservative energy policy. I’m proud to say that I’m working to create and advocate for free market, innovative policies which would fit this expansive area for Republican policy.
The Trump administration’s climate policy is one centered around economic growth and stability. Rather than committing to a large scale endeavor such as the Green New Deal, which could cost between $51 to $93 trillion over its lifetime amongst other issues such as private business, Trump has instead pursued policies which clear-up burdensome environmental regulations. Hypothetically, as businesses experience more market pressure to go green and reduce their waste, they will naturally account for this process with sufficient market encouragement, technology, and ease of legislation. The Trump administration has targeted the later of these areas, which it can significantly influence, as the focus of its environmental policy, turning back environmental regulations which unravel red tape and financial burdens on businesses for not following government guidelines to a T.
While regulations are certainly fundamental to ensuring legal repercussions for gross examples of poor waste management, in my research I’ve found numerous examples of regulations which stifle the ability for green activities. For instance, legal responsibilities associated with waste clean-up from polluted mines in the American Southwest scares off potential clean-up companies, leaving miles of rivers and land polluted. Good Samaritan legislation, such as that advanced recently by Sen. Cory Gardner (R-Co.), would abandon these legal fees and create a more welcoming environment for clean-up companies to do their work.
Reducing regulations is one step of the fight against climate change though: America needs to go on the offensive to tackle climate change. Its certainly possible for the Republicans to accomplish this with a free market agenda in mind. The American Conservation Coalition has outlined four major pillars of this strategy in their American Climate Contract: Energy Innovation, 21st Century Infrastructure, Natural Solutions, and Global Cooperation. These pillars being discusses and spread amongst Republican lawmakers, and will soon hopefully make their way into the Executive branch.
Energy innovations involve the promotion of green energy sources like wind, solar, hydroelectric, nuclear, and geothermal energy through free market mechanisms such as eliminating subsidies on fossil fuels, funding technological research, and creating a market suitable for energy companies to thrive. While projects such as the Trump Administration’s recent approval of the $1 billion Gemini Solar Program in Nevada are massive advances for the development of green energy, the government should not get used to propping up dependent energy companies. Instead, energy development is directed by government development and maintenance on infrastructure. The construction of energy plants hinges on the quality of roads, highways, existing power lines, sewage, and more, which falls under the government’s responsibility both legally and financially. This also includes infrastructure preparing for the consequences of climate change, like seawalls. Instead of getting directly involved with the market, the federal government should focus on keeping infrastructure from superhighways to bridges to dams in top shape so the public can use them: this is what natural solutions mean in the context of capitalism.
Perhaps most important is the culture that America takes towards climate change. We can either be a strong technological market for green solutions which allows other nations to collaborate with us to solve the worldwide problem of climate change. The Trump Administration’s steps back from agreements like the Paris Climate Accords were out of an attitude of escaping regulations. This vacuum of U.S. leadership needs to be refilled in some capacity by a renewed vow to fight climate change, even if its on different terms for the market.
Climate change is not unconquerable, but it does require strength and unity beyond the partisan bickering which dominates our country now. The Republicans have begun to come to the table with environmental policies, but its quintessential that they follow through and deliver.