The Politics of Climate Change - The New York Times

Donald Shockey Miami The writer is an urban planner.

Re “Oregon’s Climate Bill and the Case of the Disappearing Republicans” (news article, June 25):

The standoff over a climate bill in Oregon’s statehouse is distressing. But the partisan gridlock provides a valuable lesson when it comes to climate solutions: They must be bipartisan.

For that reason, it is encouraging that in Congress right now, there is a bipartisan effort to relaunch the Climate Solutions Caucus, a group of lawmakers who explore economically viable options to tackle climate change in such a way that bridges the divide between both parties. As of now, the caucus has around 60 members.

The relaunch of the caucus shows that it is possible for Republicans and Democrats to unite on an issue so fundamental as the warming of our planet. It is perhaps a lesson that the Oregon State Senate desperately needs.

Re “Pay Farmers to Fight Warming,” by Robert Leonard and Matt Russell (Op-Ed, June 25):

The writers’ proposal to compensate farmers for carbon capture on some of their land is part of the innovative thinking necessary to bring the agricultural community into a positive conversation about climate change.

For too long, the environmental and farm communities have been at crosscurrents rather than rowing in the same direction to mitigate the looming crisis. It would be a mistake, however, to put all the federal eggs in this one basket.

Source: The New York Times

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