Politics

Romney Calls For ‘Real Leadership’ On Global Warming

Daily Caller News Foundation logo
Michael Bastasch DCNF Managing Editor
Font Size:

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney seems to be in full campaign mode, making a stop in Salt Lake City, Utah to talk about dealing with major national problems including global warming.

At an event called “A Night With Mitt Romney: Learning to Navigate Today’s Economy,” Romney described himself as “one of those Republicans” who believes in man-made global warming, reports Desert News. Romney also called for “real leadership” in dealing with carbon dioxide emissions from coal-fired power plants.

This is the second time this week that Romney, a presidential hopeful for 2016, has stated his belief and concern about man-made global warming. Earlier this week, Romney told a gathering in Iowa that global warming was “real and a problem.”

“He said it’s not enough for Americans to keep their own carbon emissions in check when much of the rise in greenhouse gases globally is coming from countries such as China and India,” reports the Des Moines Register.

Romney was virtually silent on the issue of global warming during his 2012 presidential run, opting to focus on big ticket issues like the economy, jobs and Obamacare. But President Obama’s regulatory push to curb greenhouse gas emissions has made global warming a policy area with major implications for the economy.

The former Republican governor could also be trying to distinguish himself from his potential rival Jeb Bush, the former governor of Florida. Bush has been attacked by liberal pundits for being a “climate denier.”

“Jeb Bush may be ‘the smart brother’ — but he’s as much of a climate denier as any conservative,” wrote the left-leaning Guardian’s Suzanne Goldenberg. “When it comes to climate change, Jeb Bush is a lot more radical than his brother.”

Liberals have hit Jeb for comments he made in a 2012 Fox News interview. He said it’s “not unanimous among scientists that [global warming] is disproportionately manmade.”

“What I get a little tired of on the left is this idea that somehow science has decided all this so you can’t have a view,” Bush told Neil Cavuto in 2012.

Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton has already positioned herself as a sort of climate crusader, telling a gathering of eco-activists she would defend global warming regulations imposed by Obama.

“The unprecedented action that President Obama has taken must be defended at all costs,” Clinton told environmentalists at a dinner hosted by the League of Conservation Voters.

But as with past elections, global warming may not prove to be a top tier issue. A recent CNN poll found that 57 percent of Americans did not see global warming as a significant threat to their lives. A little under half of Americans told pollsters global warming was either caused by natural forces or not a proven fact.

Follow Michael on Twitter

Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.

All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.