Dear Editor:
The significance of Pope Francis' humble plea for Congress to simply have a conversation will likely become obvious soon. At least for some, especially Republican legislators, he provided an opening for them to join the conversation on climate change, which had already started prior to the papal visit.
On Sept. 17, New York Republican Congressman Chris Gibson introduced House Resolution 424, "Expressing the commitment of the House of Representatives to conservative environmental stewardship," which points to the consequences of climate change, both now and in the future, and concludes with a call to action. Ten Republicans have already co-sponsored, most of them Catholics.
While the resolution is non-binding, it opens the political space for meaningful dialogue where Republicans can come to the table with conservative, market-based solutions that would speed the transition to clean energy.
Such talk would have been political suicide until recently. But a number of new surveys shows that most Republican and independent voters are inclined to support candidates willing to take climate action.
As we approach the December Paris Climate Conference, virtually every major country has made pledges to limit or reduce emissions that warm our globe.
Unfortunately, current pledges will only reduce global warming from 8.1 to 6.5 degrees F by the end of the century - both catastrophic.
The international agreement coming out of the Paris conference will need to set a framework that encourages nations to ratchet up emission reductions over time, which is technically possible and economically affordable.
In August 2015, Citigroup released the report, Energy Darwinism II, Why a Low Carbon Future Doesn't have to Cost the Earth. It examines the cost of a business as usual energy plan vs. a low-carbon option.
It concludes, "The incremental costs of following a low carbon path are in context limited and seem affordable, the "return' on that investment is acceptable and moreover the likely avoided liabilities are enormous."
For those who believe the 97 percent of climate scientists - and Pope Francis - who say we need climate action, no cost is too high. But projected modest cost could be reduced, or savings enhanced, by Congress enacting good climate policy.
It shouldn't take a leap of faith to believe we can make a difference on climate change. It will take lots of phone calls and letters. Specifically, we should ask Congressman Luetkemeyer to join the conversation and cosponsor HR 424.