How climate is impacting both red and blue states

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse’s 15th annual Energy, Environment and Oceans Leaders Day (EEO Day) held Friday, Dec. 13, was a big success once again.

The purpose of the workshop is to recognize Rhode Island environmental leaders and update the community on recent developments in the environment, energy, oceans and climate change arena. How climate initiatives and approved funding will be impacted by the new administration were a key focus of the meeting.

“We must connect the dots between climate impacts and impacts on our economy. For example, storms in Florida have been devastating. Insurance rates for homeowners have quadrupled. Many cannot and will not be able to afford insurance, and this will impact the ability of citizens to get mortgages, and if banks are not issuing mortgages the real estate market is negatively impacted. The same thing is happening in wildfire states and will happen as other states feel climate impacts,” said Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse.

“We need to kick into a profound education mode to identify climate issues and workable solutions,” said guest speaker Congressman Jamie Raskin (D-MD), ranking member of the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability. When the House investigated oil companies, they delayed the investigation as it showed they knew carbon emissions were having a negative impact on climate.  They should be held liable for this damage, much the way tobacco companies have been held liable for causing cancer in humans.”

Senator Whitehouse pointed to climate impacting the fishing industry. What we fish for today is different in composition and abundance than what we fished for 10 years ago.

“You cannot catch a winter flounder in Narragansett Bay, and when you go to Newport for lobster it was caught in Maine or further north. The cold-water fish have left our area, and the warm-water fish are arriving,” said Senator Whitehouse.

Senator Ron Wyden, (D-OR), chair of the Senate Finance Committee and leading Democrat on the Joint Committee on Taxation said, “The philosophy of the climate provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act are simple, the more you reduce carbon the better the tax savings. These tax provisions have been successful in red and blue states. In fact, the 20 top states taking advantage of tax credit provisions are red states. They are going to ribbon cuttings for all sorts of projects that reduce carbon. I believe many Republicans will defend IRA tax credit provision, as they are fueling economies in their states, too.”

I was honored to be invited to attend EEO Day and thought it was a great success. Congratulations, Senator Whitehorse and staff on another very successful EEO Day. 

Dave Monti holds a master captain’s license and charter fishing license. He serves on a variety of boards and commissions and has a consulting business focusing on clean oceans, habitat preservation, conservation, renewable energy, and fisheries related issues and clients. Forward fishing news and photos to dmontifish@verison.net or visit www.noflukefishing.com.