What will you do as a U.S. senator to address climate change?
U.S. Senator
Kelly Tshibaka
Republican candidate for U.S. Senator
We all agree on wanting clean air and water. But even John Kerry has said it would have no impact globally if the U.S. cut its carbon emissions completely to zero. Instead of pushing big government climate change policies, we need to acknowledge that in Alaska we produce energy cleaner and more efficiently than other less environmentally responsible nations. President Biden is asking those less efficient countries to increase their own output while he shuts down our energy production.
I will advocate to prohibit pre-emptive and retroactive vetoes under the CWA, properly define “waters of the U.S.” under the CWA, and reduce taxes and regulatory barriers so we can invest in energy innovation and environmental conservation like the Impact Mitigation Grant program. Reducing energy-killing regulations and facilitating technological innovations in oil and gas production will enable us to continue improving our approaches to resource development and environmental protection.
Lisa Murkowski
Republican candidate for U.S. Senator
Climate change is real and impacting our state, from receding sea ice and permafrost thaw to changes in fish and wildlife migratory patterns. We have a responsibility to continue reducing our domestic greenhouse gas emissions and an opportunity to develop technologies that we can export so the rest of the world can do the same. I played a lead role in the passage of three significant measures in the past two years alone that will phase down the use of ultra-warming hydrofluorocarbons and invest more than $70 billion in clean technologies. My Energy Act, the only comprehensive modernization of our nation’s energy laws in the past 15 years, and the bipartisan infrastructure law will help us develop all forms of renewable energy, energy storage systems, advanced nuclear reactors, carbon capture and carbon removal technologies, electric vehicles and more. While I did not support the Inflation Reduction Act as it would actually increase inflation, a silver lining of its passage was the inclusion of several energy-related provisions that I supported on a standalone basis, including new tax credits to spur the deployment of hydrogen, hydropower and geothermal. Going forward, I will continue to recognize climate change as a threat that we must work together to address. I will propose and support policies focused on innovation, efficiency and technology deployment, while doing more to help our state with climate adaptation, climate resilience and ocean acidification.
Patricia Chesbro
Democratic candidate for U.S. Senator
President Biden has working to help the U.S. address climate change. This, too, is a complex issue. Effective measures will require all of us to identify our own contribution to the problem and make some decisions about the personal choices and even sacrifices that are necessary to work toward slowing down the destruction. I admit to heating my house and cooking with natural gas. I admit to driving a gasoline-powered car. I admit to enjoying travel by air. Every decision made by the Senate should take climate change into account. How can we urge Americans to consider this as a similar situation to World War II, where everyone contributed to the effort? A U.S. senator’s voice carries power and can influence her constituents. Climate change must top our agenda. Our children’s future is in jeopardy if we don’t.