S2E3: We ask Vox's David Roberts if we're naive about conservatives and climate

The team at Nori prides themselves on including individuals across the political spectrum in the climate conversation and being open to the idea of energy companies as partners in the fight against climate change. Is this a naive position to take? Is it possible to rekindle the social trust we need to work together on climate solutions?

 

David Roberts is a staff writer for Vox, and his work focuses on energy, politics and climate change. On this episode of the podcast, David joins Ross and Aldyen to share his take on the disappearance of the center-right as a faction of the Republican Party and discuss the role social trust plays in the health of a society. Aldyen introduces the idea of a common goal as key to the survival of an empire, and David explains why climate change is unlikely to serve as our national purpose here in the US.

 

David goes on to describe what drew him to the topic of carbon utilization and how he thinks about applying emissions performance standards to carbon removal. Listen in for David’s warning around allowing what he sees as bad actors (potentially like the oil and gas industry) into the fold as partners and learn why we can’t solve climate change with a spreadsheet—and would do well to prepare ourselves for a messy process.

 

Key Takeaways

 

[1:53] David’s take on the center-right as a faction

Erudite, fiscal conservatives used to serve as face of Republican Party Most abandoned moral + economic principles in wake of Trump’s win Still worth holding space for center-right in climate conversation

 

[8:01] Why most major environmental laws were signed by Republicans

Not because genuinely motivated to protect environment Concessions made to Democrats as part of compromise 

 

[13:03] The challenge around creating a multi-ethnic democracy

Core group with power and privilege more inclined to make concessions Demographics pushing us to create system with no one subculture on top Never been done before, open question re: whether possible 

 

[15:20] How the health of a society is linked to the idea of social trust

Must believe those who run institutions working on your behalf Current decline in trust in science, media, government and academia

 

[19:28] Why empires need a common, driving goal to survive

All domestic and foreign policy organized around Cold War  With help of right-wing media, conservatives now see liberals as enemy

 

[24:28] Why David doesn’t think climate change can serve as our national purpose

People need people to hate, climate change doesn’t have villain Must accept collective responsibility even if participation unconscious

 

[31:58] What drew David to the topic of carbon utilization

Capture and bury requires brute force of government action Carbon used in industrial processes creates viable market

 

[34:59] How David defines the emissions performance standard

Establish fixed goal, allow industries or people to compete Reward companies based on progress toward goal Facilitates perpetual improvement in performance

 

[41:30] How David thinks about employing emissions performance standards to carbon removal

Sector specific (i.e.: building vs. auto efficiency standards) Specific focus on ultimate goal of less carbon in atmosphere ‘No net new’ regulation to shock oil and gas industry awake

 

[48:23] The potential for oil and gas companies to transition to energy companies

Possibility of returning to old model as integrated energy supplier Won’t match size and power of companies as exist today Long-term corporate survival depends on self-cannibalization

 

[56:02] David’s criticism of Republican climate efforts

Entered fray to protect interests of oil and gas donors Empowers oil and gas industry as partner (doesn’t share long-term goals)

 

[1:01:49] David’s insight around our cognitive and emotional blind spots

Conservatives + liberals both tell selves stories re: why what we’re doing is good Defend other interests under guise of furthering climate solutions Need institutions like scientific community and media to keep in check

 

[1:11:27] Why solving climate change will be a messy process

Must rekindle social trust, many strategies can work if in it together Solving at scale and speed we need requires more than carbon tax

 

Connect with Ross & Christophe

 

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Carbon Removal Newsroom

 

Resources

 

David on Twitter

David on Vox

Political Climate Podcast

David on Political Climate

William F. Buckley, Jr.

Environmental Protection Agency

The Clean Air Act 

Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative

Massachusetts’ GHG Emissions and Mitigation Policy

(We will add in Aldyen's economics of empire book when we can figure out what it is.)

Green New Deal

White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo

Designing Climate Solutions: A Policy Guide for Low-Carbon Energy by Hal Harvey with Robbie Orvis and Jeffrey Rissman

Japan’s Top Runner Program

California’s Building Standards Code

Joseph Majkut on RCC EP051

United National Global Cap-and-Trade Policy

Naomi Klein

Jonathan Haidt

Niskanen Center