Climate Change
Run up to COP21

James Cox ... Kudos for Climate Bill

Burgess COMMENTARY

Peter Burgess

Kudos for Climate Bill

I want congratulate Rep. Chris Gibson, republican of NY, for sponsoring a bill in Congress to acknowledge the human impact on the planet as a cause of climate change and calling for solutions to be enacted as quickly as possible. This bill was co-sponsored by 10 other republican members of congress including rep. Ryan Costello, rep. Pat Meehan, and rep. Mike Fitzpatrick from Pennsylvania.

The resolution states, “If left unaddressed, the consequences of a changing climate have the potential to adversely impact all Americans.” And concludes that the House should commit to “working constructively, using our tradition of American ingenuity, innovation, and exceptionalism, to create and support economically viable, and broadly supported private and public solutions to study and address the causes and effects of measured changes to our global and regional climates, including mitigation efforts and efforts to balance human activities that have been found to have an impact.”

Please be sure to reach out these brave politicians and congratulate them on standing up for the planet and future generations. Acknowledging the problem is the first step to creating a productive dialogue between the various interest groups. Republicans should recognize the business imperative posed by climate change. The negative impact of events like Katrina and Sandy, as well as the opportunities created by clean energy and sustainable building construction.

Future generations will judge us by what we do, and what we do not do...

Kudos to representatives Costello, Meehan and Fitzpatrick.