Article Paints a Nuanced Picture of Bipartisan Climate Work

To the Editor:

I appreciated Jim Rendon’s article “The ‘Eco-Right’ Is Growing. Will Bipartisanship Follow?” (May 28). It helpfully spotlighted the work of conservative climate groups to show readers that bipartisan collaboration isn’t just possible — it’s already underway.

While current federal clean energy and environmental policy might feel stuck in reverse, the reality on Capitol Hill is far more nuanced than is often portrayed. Despite partisan rhetoric, many members of Congress want to collaborate on climate policy with colleagues from different parties.

I’ve seen this firsthand: The Environmental and Energy Study Institute, the climate policy nonprofit that I lead, often works with both Democratic and Republican members of Congress. And the growing right-of-center movement that Rendon describes indeed exists.

People from the center-left are also keenly interested in finding common ground. The Venn diagram of policies that interest liberals, moderates, and conservatives seems to be expanding despite supercharged polarization. Not everyone agrees on the same solutions. But Republicans are just as likely as Democrats to discuss wildfire preparedness, forever chemicals, conservation, or geothermal energy.

Demand for information is also high across the board: At the end of 2024, about 85 percent of House and Senate offices used the Environmental and Energy Study Institute’s educational resources. That’s a big, bipartisan slice of the pie.

Of course, avoiding the worst outcomes of climate change requires more than simply acknowledging that a problem exists. Policymakers also need to put that knowledge to work and enact policies that can make a difference. Congress will soon face a major test when the Republican majority decides the fate of more than a dozen clean energy tax incentives that overwhelmingly deliver economic benefits to red states.

Progress isn’t possible without shared trust and a common understanding of what’s at stake. More philanthropic support can encourage conservative, moderate, and liberal policymakers to build bipartisan coalitions and advance climate solutions so Congress is prepared to act whenever it’s ready.

Daniel Bresette

President
Environmental and Energy Study Institute