On Tuesday, April 20th, WPC’s Young Professionals hosted a debate on climate change that bridged the political divide, with two voices from the center-left and two from the center-right. Speakers included the American Conservation Coalition’s National Policy Director, Christopher Barnard; Washington Policy Center’s Environment Center Director Todd Myers; climate scientist Steven Ghan of Citizens’ Climate Lobby; and Eric de Place, Director of the Sightline Institute’s Thin Green Line program. The Earth Day event was hosted by WPC’s Gonzaga YP club and moderated by Maia Espinoza.
Titled “Addressing Climate Change: Governments or Markets,” speakers from the left and the right discussed the appropriate roles of governments and markets in environmental policy, the merits of the Green New Deal, and how best to actualize more low-carbon energy solutions. Speakers encountered both points of sharp divergence and unexpected common ground in a 90-minute discussion that maintained a tone of respect and civility.
Sightline’s Eric de Place remarked on the event:
“I’m not a conservative, not by any stretch of the imagination, but I wanted to really commend Washington Policy Center, and sort of the conservative movement in general, for starting a conversation like this. This is fascinating. This is good. This is exactly the sort of thing that we need to be doing. […] That’s not to say that we’re going to come out of this with complete agreement, but I am gratified to at least play a small role in a conversation like this.”
Watch the full TVW recording of the debate here.
And learn more about WPC’s YP program here!