Pushing the GOP to Take Action on Climate Change

BENJI BACKER, PRESIDENT AND FOUNDER, AMERICAN CONSERVATION COALITION: Yes, well, honestly, it is a very frustrating moment for a lot of young people across the country who are looking for both sides to engage on climate. Young people don’t see climate in terms of Republican or Democrat, they see it in terms of climate. And to have only one side of the table is really damaging for not only the environment but the conservative movement and the Republican Party as well. 77 percent of young conservatives, according to our polling and other polling, want action on climate. And that includes our members across the country. We have thousands of them across the country who want this sort of action. And for two presidential conventions in a row to not engage on climate, it’s an immense failure of the Republican Party. But it’s also too bad because there has been a lot of action within the Republican Party on climate over the past four years. In fact, the most climate-friendly governors in the United States are Governor Baker, Governor Hogan and Governor Sununu, all Republicans. And Republicans have been putting together climate plans. Kevin McCarthy, the House minority leader put together a climate plan. Senator Braun and Congressman John Curtis had been stewards of the environment in putting together tons of climate policies. But unfortunately, the national party is not reflecting not only the youth voters but also the immense progress that has been made within the party itself.

AMANPOUR: Well, it’s interesting to hear you, you know, raise this to that level, and especially the 77 percent number is very high. And last week you tweeted, conservatism without a climate plan is a conservatism that will never last. What do you mean by that?

BACKER: Well, in all honesty, it’s the truth. Conservatism will not last if climate policy isn’t at the forefront of these issues. Young people are wanting climate action more than ever. And like I said earlier, climate is not perceived as a partisan issue to young people. They don’t want it to be partisan. And so, if you have one side that is perceived as the climate party and one side that is perceived as the climate denial party, even though that’s not true, you are not going to be able to recruit and get young voters on your side as the climate denial party. And so, the conservative movement is once again delaying four more years of progress with young people who oftentimes have fiscally conservative values. They want to be economically and fiscally responsible, and they want — but they — at the same time they want action on climate. They want pragmatic action. They don’t want the Green New Deal. But if the Green New Deal and the Democratic Party is all they’re hearing from on climate, then they will never vote for Republicans or free market ideals or limited government ideals, which I have fought my entire life for. So, somebody who has fought their entire life for conservative ideals, I know firsthand, knowing other thousands of young conservatives across the country and young moderates, that this is an issue that is going to make or break how they associate politically going forward.