Mt. Gov Gianforte's Climate Plan - Technology! Entrepreneurs! Deregulation! Innovation! Logging!
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In an attempt to understand whether Gianforte plans to act on climate change — and if so, how — Montana Free Press requested an interview with the governor to discuss the topic specifically. MTFP was granted 15 minutes in late July, during which Gianforte discussed energy policy and carbon sequestration, and advocated cutting government regulation as a means of encouraging technological innovation and forest management as a tool for reducing carbon emissions driven by wildfire — the latter the subject of a forthcoming story.
Asked first what he’d like to communicate to constituents about climate change, Gianforte led with an affirmation that the climate is changing. He said that as a scientist himself, he has an interest in what the data says about climate change, and he knows that Montanans are facing the impacts now in the form of drought and wildfire. He said humans play a role in driving climate change, and that “American ingenuity” can help mitigate it. “To help the state, the country and the world, we’ve got to focus on American innovation and ingenuity,” Gianforte said. “We shouldn’t be picking winners and losers, but we can get the friction out of the way so innovators and entrepreneurs can pursue [solutions].”
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Gianforte’s recent decision to withdraw Montana from the U.S. Climate Alliance, a coalition of states committed to following recommendations outlined in the 2015 Paris Accord, has left many Montanans wondering if he has a plan or policy to take its place. If he does, he hasn’t disclosed it.
Asked in a follow-up email if the governor has established any specific or measurable targets to reach climate goals, spokesperson Brooke Stroyke responded, “… you can’t set arbitrary, predictive limitations on innovation, and we can’t and shouldn’t put guardrails on innovation and ingenuity to address climate change.” Gianforte’s Montana Comeback Plan, to which the governor has frequently referred as a blueprint for his administration’s priorities, doesn’t mention climate change, though it does call for the state to “responsibly develop” Montana resources such as minerals, coal, oil, gas and timber.
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https://missoulacurrent.com/outdoors/2021/08/gianforte-climate-change/
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