(National Harbor) CO2 is it “good for the planet”? Are scientists’ predictions “exaggerated”? Or should we finally make the climate “a priority”? Gathered this week in congress, the American conservatives showed strong differences on this subject.
In the middle of the stands of CPAC, a major political convention organized near Washington, sits a series of blue pamphlets calling for “refuting the idea that climate change is caused by humans”.
“The climate is changing, but we dispute the catastrophic side of the issue”, justifies Gabriella Hoffman spokesperson for the Committee for a constructive tomorrow (CFACT).
From its stand, installed between a reproduction of the Oval Office and cookies in the colors of the American flag, this association calls for a change in “the discourse” on climate change.
Alarmist statements about the future of the planet, “we hear them all day long”, but the reality often turns out “not to be that dramatic”, assures Gabriella Hoffman.
CO2 My love
The expert reports, the temperature records that follow one another… all this data is greatly “exaggerated”, adds Payne Kilbourn, from his stand a few rows away, covered with pins “I love CO2 “.
For this nuclear engineer, whose association “CO2 coalition” is participating in its third edition of the CPAC, the carbon dioxide, which comes out of exhaust pipes, for example, is “good for the planet”.
“It helps the plants to grow”, declares this activist who sells objects bearing the slogan “Relax, the polar bears are not going away”.
It does not matter that this group has been singled out many times for relaying misleading claims. “We are the only scientific stand here”, claims Payne Kilbourn, assuring that “everyone else is in politics”.
Winning back young people
But not all conservatives attending Congress agree.
Morgan Chrisman, a 24-year-old Republican who is in no doubt that the climate crisis is imminent, holds a pavilion urging to make the future of the planet “a priority”.
A rather minority opinion at this conservative high mass, where the panels praising oil as the dominant energy are linked together.
“It’s been too long since the left monopolizes these subjects and many young people think that the Republicans have nothing to offer them,” she regrets.
In the last two US elections, young people have indeed overwhelmingly preferred progressive candidates, making climate issues a priority.
Morgan, who sells caps calling for “Make America’s energy great again” – a nod to Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign slogan – belongs to the “Young Republicans for the Carbon Dividend” group, which s ‘s mission is to win back the young electorate.
“Capitalism is the solution to climate change”, “we love nuclear energy”… this group is convinced that there are solutions to global warming “based on the market economy”, much more effective than those currently advocated by Democrats.
“All the people under 40 who come to see us are very enthusiastic,” says the young Republican.