Sen. Lindsey Graham (RS.C.) told ‘Axios on HBO’ that he intends to ‘lean into’ climate change ‘and that he has already discussed the possible common ground with President Biden’s special climate envoy John Kerry.
Behind the scenes: In a follow-up interview with Axios, Graham said Kerry called him in November, around the time Kerry’s new post was announced, to see if there were any openings to work with.
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The plot: Graham has a history of climate with Kerry – but not a successful history.
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More than a decade ago, he negotiated a comprehensive climate bill with then-Democratic senators Kerry and Joe Lieberman for months.
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At the time, the dual senators were named ‘The Three Amigos’, after the Steve Martin comedy in which actors from silent films from Los Angeles accidentally protect a Mexican town from a gang of bandits.
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But in April 2010, Graham abruptly walked away from the two Democrats and dealt a fatal blow to legislation that collapsed completely months later.
Why it matters: If the senior Republican in South Carolina makes climate a priority and pursues his IDP colleagues, it could help overcome the major obstacles to bipartisan efforts.
The whole picture: Graham, who has pledged to charge a carbon emissions fee, argues that shifts in the attitude of powerful industries, including oil and gas companies and automakers, are creating new openings.
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He repeatedly mentioned General Motors’ recent promise to sell only electric cars and sports utility vehicles by 2035, noting that the oil company is moving to diversify into cleaner products.
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His comments also come because the powerful U.S. Petroleum Institute is apparently ready to endorse carbon prices in a move.
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“There is a coalition to put together that did not exist two years ago,” Graham said.
What we are looking at: One focus for Graham is that he wants to find ways to accelerate the deployment of electric vehicles while strengthening the Highway Trust Fund.
Reality test: Graham has shown interest in climate policy several times over the past few years, such as sponsoring a bill with two Democrats last year to help farmers participate in carbon credit markets.
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But overall, he has not made it a major priority during his Senate term since abandoning the 2010 effort, and his new comments cover familiar territory for the Republican in South Carolina.
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It did not help Graham’s case that the most powerful Republican, former President Donald Trump, has openly mocked the concept of climate change over the past four years.
Between the lines: Broadly speaking, Republicans continue to resist the kind of aggressive emissions-cutting policies that Democrats and environmentalists strive for.
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And carbon prices are no longer at the heart of democratic climate efforts. Legislators and Biden administration officials, who are looking to reduce emissions in depth, are instead focusing on large-scale investments and strict regulatory standards to reduce emissions from power stations, cars and more.
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