Earth Day: Is There Common Ground on Climate Policy?

This Earth Day, local and national news outlets across the spectrum published commentary about climate change policy, sometimes highlighting common ground on the issue.

The Details: Several news reports, mainly from outlets rated Lean Left, highlighted rising “deadly” temperatures in Europe, which saw its hottest year on record in 2023. 

‘Bipartisan willingness’: The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s (Center bias) Editorial Board wrote that “a bipartisan willingness to fight climate change” reflected “what most Americans want.” The editors also noted that Pennsylvania voters had rejected “far–right climate change deniers.”

‘Middle ground’: In Common Dreams (Left bias), the president of Fielding Graduate University argued for a middle way between “the temptation to deny there is a problem and despair that there are no solutions.” Attempting to “transform the conversation,” she supported “moving away from arguments about the scientific consensus and focusing on local problems and solutions,” adding, “Some of the best climate mitigation in this country is happening in communities and municipalities.”

‘Conservative environmentalism’: In the Washington Examiner (Lean Right bias), American Conservation Coalition (ACC) founder Benji Backer urged conservatives to “reclaim Earth Day.” While he criticized “the likes of Greta Thunberg” and called President Joe Biden’s climate legislation “bankrupt,” he also urged conservatives to “fix the climate without sacrificing the things that are important to us: economic security, an open and free market, and our liberty.” In the New York Post (Opinion rated Right), another ACC leader, Alina Clough, criticized those who choose not to have children because of “an overly pessimistic view of climate change.”