The Republican Party's Climate Change Denial: A Recipe for Disaster

The Republican Party's climate change stance has devolved into a saga of sabotage, with party leaders trying to undermine President Barack Obama's efforts to reach an international climate change agreement in Paris. Top Republican lawmakers are engaging in an aggressive campaign to undermine the US climate change efforts, citing China and other countries' lack of action as an excuse to prevent the US from reducing its fossil fuel consumption. This shift in stance from arguing that other countries wouldn't reduce emissions to warning them not to do so without any protest from within the party or the conservative movement highlights the party's stance on climate change.

Key Takeaways:

• Republican Party leaders are actively trying to sabotage President Obama's hopes of reaching an international climate change agreement in Paris by conducting a wide-ranging offensive, including outreach to foreign officials.
• The party's stance on climate change has changed from insisting other countries wouldn't reduce emissions to warning them not to do so without any protest from within the party or the conservative movement.
• Climate science acceptance has shifted among conservative politicians globally, with most acknowledging the reality of human-caused global warming and proposing to address it.
• In contrast, the Republican Party has become increasingly climate-skeptical, with many presidential candidates denying global warming or its human cause.
• Only a few Republican presidential candidates support taking action to address climate change, with Lindsey Graham and George Pataki polling at a combined 0.2%.
• The Republican Party is obstructing President Obama's Clean Power Plan without offering alternatives, and has not supported small government, free market, economically beneficial solutions to carbon pricing.
• The party's stance on climate change is at odds with the views of its voters, with a majority supporting cutting carbon pollution.
• Republican policymakers are failing to lead on climate change, while also ignoring the findings of their own reports and the scientific consensus on human-caused global warming.

Statistics:

• 0.2%: The combined polling percentage of Lindsay Graham and George Pataki, the only two Republican presidential candidates who support taking action to address climate change.
• 2010: The year in which Senator Lindsay Graham co-authored a bipartisan cap and trade bill.
• 2007: The year in which Senator John McCain co-authored the Climate Stewardship and Innovation Act to introduce a carbon cap and trade system.
• 2013: The year in which the Republican Party's Growth and Opportunity Project report highlighted the party's failing connection with minority groups, which are poised to become the American majority.

Sources:

• Politico: "Republicans plot climate sabotage in Paris"
• Jonathan Chait: In Salon: Republicans are trying to prevent the US from reducing its fossil fuel consumption, citing China and other countries' lack of action.
• Salon: "Marco Rubio is trying to distinguish himself as a full-on climate villain" by Lindsay Abrams.
• Neal deGrasse Tyson: In an interview, he noted that human-caused climate change and associated risks are real and will become more apparent to voters as the planet continues to heat up.