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Newt Gingrich and Climate Change
Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich [www.newt.org] is taking part in the We Can Solve It ad campaign because he believes that we need to work together to find solutions for mitigating and adapting to the effects of climate change. Gingrich believes that an entrepreneurial-led and market-based incentive approach can best solve the challenges of global climate change while avoiding costly carbon taxes, cap and trade, more government regulations, more control by bureaucracies or more litigation.In his 2007 book Contract with the Earth -- [www.contractwiththeearth.com] a book on the environment co-authored by Terry L. Maple, President and CEO of the Palm Beach Zoo and professor of conservation and behavior at the Georgia Institute of Technology -- Gingrich and Maple advocate "Green Conservatism," an innovative, market-based, common-sense approach to protecting the environment by rewarding conservation through incentives while fostering "green" economic growth. Green Conservatism values clean air and water, land preservation, prosperity, biodiversity, the reduction of carbon gases in the atmosphere and solutions based upon science, innovation and technology. Gingrich and Maple argue that conservative principles can be the drivers for effective and accountable conservation solutions. You can learn more at www.contractwiththeearth.com.
Green Conservatism and Global Climate Change - The Challenge
In Contract with the Earth, Gingrich and Maple recognize that there is a wealth of scientific data that supports global climate change. However, they also recognize that we cannot be certain about the variance introduced by distinctly human activities and that it is possible that the temperature fluctuations documented so far are normal perturbations subject to some natural self-correction mechanisms.
Nevertheless, global climate change is real, and it may have serious consequences in the future. Therefore, it is prudent for Americans to continue to monitor the environment, sponsor research to learn as much as we can as fast as we can, and to develop new technology to slow the process or at least reduce the output of gases that may be contributing to the pace of global climate change.
Green Conservatism and Global Climate Change - A Framework for Solutions
Gingrich and Maple recommend that government join with industry to create an energy and environmental strategy that passes a three-part test. The strategy must diminish the power of the oil dictators, reduce the amount of carbon discharged into the atmosphere and create an even more productive economy for the future. They reject the approach of a bureaucratic command-and-control structure to oversee our environmental future. They think that any strategy that relies on more carbon taxes (either direct or indirect carbon taxes in the form of a cap and trade system), more government regulations, more control by bureaucracies and more litigation will inherently fail to meet the three-part test.
They believe that the American experience proves again and again that a market-oriented approach that encourages entrepreneurs to use new science and new technology creates more progress than any other system. They believe the same will be true for a new energy and environmental strategy that meets the three-part test.
Gingrich and Maple consistently argue that modest incentives will not advance innovation, which is why they outline bold government incentives in their book. Robust government tax incentives and both public and private prizes for innovation are likely to stimulate the kind of "transformational technologies" that are needed. For example, a prize of $1 billion would help our nation sprint to a hydrogen economy and dramatically speed up our movement towards a domestically produced form of clean, sustainable energy. Stimulating the marketplace of new ideas will also provide opportunities for massive technology transfer as rapidly developing countries look to America for cleaner, greener sources of energy. Further, they argue that an effective, decisive American government is absolutely essential if America wants to shift from an increasingly dangerous dependence on petroleum products controlled by oligarchies and dictatorships. American innovation in energy will ensure that our nation is green, safe and free.
They believe that the investment required to achieve our environmental objectives will be in the billions, but an investment of this size is very achievable, particularly if the money is used to offer the large incentives and prizes that will stimulate significant private investment. American universities and industries lead the world in innovation, and they must continue to encourage this trend through a national commitment to science and engineering education. Conservatives should lead the way in advocating significant government investments in energy, science and technology.
An effective government stimulates innovation by reducing bureaucratic red-tape and counterproductive regulation. A conservative approach to environmental problem-solving does not bloat the federal bureaucracy; instead, it provides the necessary incentives to stimulate entrepreneurial solutions to meet the energy and environmental challenges we face. They believe this approach is the best way to protect our national security, expand the American and global economy and renew the earth.
Newt Gingrich - Environmental Background
As a young man, Newt Gingrich was fascinated by the natural world, and his fascination continues. He wanted to become a zoo director or a vertebrate paleontologist. Before being elected to Congress, he was an environmental studies professor at West Georgia College for eight years.
While in Congress, Newt Gingrich served as a conferee on the 1986 Superfund amendments where he was successful in boosting funding for Superfund to $2 billion a year.
As the Republican House Whip, his leadership helped to pass and strengthen the Clean Air Act which used market systems to reduce sulfuric acid in the atmosphere by 50% for one tenth of the projected cost.
Newt was a major supporter of Zoo Atlanta and was instrumental in helping the zoo acquire several animals including an endangered black rhino, two endangered Komodo dragons and a green boa. In 1995 he received a conservation award from Zoo Atlanta for his work on behalf of the environment.
Newt's intervention in 1994 helped save $800,000 in Interior Appropriations for a federal program to support the efforts of African and Asian nations to preserve three threatened species: the rhinoceros, the tiger and the elephant.
He also worked for legislation to improve our national parks.
Newt encouraged volunteer participation in environmental activities on Earth Day and awarded certificates to those who participated. On Earth Day 1995, Newt held an Environmental Roundtable with local business leaders involved in helping the environment. On Earth Day 1996 and 1997, he took groups of 3rd graders from his district on a zoo tour to reinforce their commitment to the environment.
Newt Gingrich has been a continuous supporter of the preservation of the Chattahoochee River throughout his public and private careers. He has worked to improve water quality and preserve underdeveloped acreage along the river. In 1995, Newt held a student forum on environmental issues for students in the Sixth District, giving students the opportunity to participate in water testing in the Chattahoochee River.
Newt was instrumental in working out a compromise in a marathon 15-hour session in his office between federal, state and local officials to gain approval for the Tri State Water Compact. The Compact helped protect waterways in Georgia, Florida and Alabama, and Newt was praised for this accomplishment in Governor Zell Miller's State of the State Address.
In 1995, Newt held an Environmental Summit and a Superfund Town Hall Meeting so that citizens in the Atlanta area could voice their concerns about the environment.
Newt worked with the Trust for Public Land to achieve preservation and protection of the Chattahoochee River, securing $3 million in appropriations in 1996. Working with developers, Newt was instrumental in securing and preserving "Green-ways" along the Chattahoochee.
Newt secured $1.5 million to preserve and protect Cumberland Island and $3 million to protect lands along the Appalachian Trail. He pushed for legislation to protect the Florida Everglades in addition to an environmentally friendly Farm Bill and legislation to promote recycling of hazardous materials.
Newt made sure the Clean Water legislation that passed was strong. He secured funding of $2.8 billion a year for safe drinking water programs.
Newt has formed a Sixth District Environmental Advisory Council to keep him informed on environmental issues in the district and help set priorities on environmental concerns.
Newt was instrumental in helping to raise money and acquire funding for the Kennesaw Mountain National Battleground Park, the evaluation of clean-up problems for the Lake Allatoona Project, and he also helped to protect and preserve the Hyde Farm in Cobb County, GA.
In 1998 the Georgia Wildlife Foundation named Newt Gingrich "Legislator of the Year" for his leadership on helping the environment in his home state.
Edward O. Wilson credited Newt Gingrich for using his influence to save the Endangered Species Act. Wilson wrote the forward to Newt's recent book, A Contract with the Earth. In it, Wilson said:
"Written at a time when the United States is so widely - and often needlessly - riven by ideological disputes, proper attention to the environment can be a unifying effort. It favors no religion or ideology; it offers both short-term and long-term benefits for all. And it can heal."
