After Harvey, Irma, Occasional, Grudging Theoretical Discussion Of Climate Happening (Occasionally)

[hatrack]

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In the immediate aftermath, Republicans and Democrats are falling into familiar positions around an issue on which no immediate policy is expected any time soon, particularly under a president in Donald Trump who has consistently questioned the severity of climate change's threat. But the one-two punch of the storms, which cost more than 100 lives and well over $100 billion in estimated damage, are at least prompting rethinking of the issue and what Washington can or should do to address climate change, political observers said.

"Short term, does it change anything? No," said Stephen Brown, a top lobbyist for the San Antonio refiner Andeavor, formerly known as Tesoro. "But long term, does it encourage consideration by some who are on the fence that this is a serious issue and deserves a lot more careful consideration than has been given to it? This is the conversation among Republicans right now."

Bob Inglis, a former Republican congressman from South Carolina who runs the environmental group Republicen, noted that Republicans who have long used climate change as a punch line to rile up their base were becoming more cautious as flooding events piled up, recounting the dour mood in his home state last year following flooding caused by Hurricane Matthew. "Because people had experienced climate change, this epic storm is consistent with the models of what we would expect from climate change," he said. "If anyone had attempted a joke, it would have gone over like a lead balloon."

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At a breakfast hosted by the American Petroleum Institute last week, the trade group's president, Jack Gerard, said there was little reason to worry about regulations aimed at reducing carbon emissions produced by oil and other fossil fuels. The agenda of the Trump administration is "quite clear," he said. "It's about benefiting Americans, creating jobs in America." As the event wrapped up, Rep. Gene Green, a Houston Democrat who walks a fine line between calling for climate action and supporting the oil and gas refineries that fill his district, said even discussing the potential role of climate change in the series of destructive storms was unlikely to get much time in Congress. "We probably won't have a hearing on any of that," he said. "There's a few on the Republican side, but nowhere near the number you would need."

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http://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/article/After-hurricanes-climate-change-resurfaces-in-12207513.php