An aerial view of the aftermath of Hurricane Helene flooding Bat Cave, North Carolina on October 8, … More 2024. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)

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The vast majority of Americans across the nation believe climate change is happening (72%), are worried about it (63%), believe it’s affecting the weather (65%), and want to transition the U.S. economy to clean energy (66%), including funding research into renewable energy (76%) and providing tax rebates for energy efficient solar panels and vehicles (75%). An extraordinary 77% believe schools should teach about global warming too and 63% said that developing clean energy should be a priority for the President and Congress. That’s according to a new study by the Yale Program on Climate Change Communications and George Mason University Center for Climate Communications.

Map of U.S. adults worried about global warming – Yale Program on Climate Communications, Feb. 2025

Yale Climate Communications, screenshot

While the current Trump administration is slashing all of the above, there are bipartisan efforts underway to address climate change on Capitol Hill and in statehouses nationwide.

“Climate change is not a partisan issue — it is a reality that affects every community across our country. The challenges we face, from extreme weather to rising energy costs, demand real, lasting solutions,” Congresswoman Chrissy Houlihan, Democrat of Pennsylvania and Co-Chair of the Bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus wrote me in an email.

Congresswoman Chrissy Houlihan (D-PA), former U.S. Air Force and Air Force Reserve

Congresswoman Chrissy Houlihan

She also agrees with the Yale research findings on energy, adding, “While the word ‘climate’ may be politically charged for some, the need for affordable, reliable, and secure energy is something we can all agree on. Americans are calling for action, and as Members of Congress it’s our responsibility to deliver.”

“If we want long-term solutions that address both our constituents’ concerns and growing climate risks, we must work together to strengthen our energy and climate security with urgency.” Working together means building a bridge across the political divide on climate and clean energy.

Bridging the political divide on climate change and clean energy

To explore how we can bridge the partisan divide to address the climate crisis, I spoke with Chelsea Henderson, the author of the new book, “Glacial: The Inside Story of Climate Politics,” and Director of Editorial Content at RepublicEn.org, an organization of “conservatives for climate change,” as she described it.

“Glacial – The Inside Story of Climate Politics” by Chelsea Henderson

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RepublicEn.org was founded by former Republican Representative Bob Englis of South Carolina and they talk about their movement as “the EcoRight.”

Their website says, “We stand together because we believe in the power of American free enterprise and innovation to solve climate change. Together, we encourage, embolden, and applaud conservative climate leadership,” adding, “We’re here for those who want to embrace the competition of ideas about solutions.”

“I think the first step is just saying it’s okay to say that climate change is real and happening, because as you and I know, it is real and it is happening,” Henderson explained in an exclusive interview on Electric Ladies Podcast recently.

“I love to quote Dr. Katharine Hayhoe on this matter. She’s like, gravity doesn’t care if you believe in it or not. If you jump off a cliff, you’re going to go down. Same with climate change. Whether you believe in it or not, that hurricane might hit your town.”

How do we get bipartisan agreement on climate and energy issues in today’s polarized environment?

Here are ways Henderson suggested we can build bipartisan support for initiatives that address the climate crisis:

Chelsea Henderson, RepublicEn.org

Teresa Castracane 2020

Focus on economic development: To engage conservative Republicans on addressing the climate crisis, Henderson suggested focusing on economic development in their districts, which is exactly what the Inflation Reduction Act delivers. Republican districts are getting 85% of the benefits, according to various reports, including from Investigate Midwest and Bloomberg. To defend them, 18 Republican Congressman wrote Speaker of the House Mike Johnson asking him not to repeal the Inflation Reduction Act, because their districts are benefiting greatly from its investments and financial incentives. In addition, 21 House Republicans sent a letter to Representative Jason Smith (MO), chairs of the Ways and Means Committee, asking him to keep the clean energy tax credits because they are helping their districts.

Screenshot – Renewable energy in Ohio – cleanchoiceenergy.com

Screenshot – cleanchoiceenergy.com

Talk about “the nexus between national security, clean energy and climate change”: Henderson also suggested focusing on national security and competing with China. “China…intend(s) to own the clean energy revolution, and they’re well on their way. And that is because of our political headbutting on clean energy and climate change in this country. We are seeding ground to China,” Henderson said.

“China’s like, okay, I’ll make all your solar panels. We’ll make all the EV and autonomous vehicles. They see the financial opportunities there. And so it’s really, really time, past time for the U.S. to kind of get out of their corners, right? Politicians need to get out of their corners and come together because this is really the greatest crisis that we are ever going to face.” She pointed out that Trump is the first Republican president or presidential nominee to reject the idea of climate change.

Tell stories about the impact of climate change on your traditions or hobbies: “You have people who tell us stories about, you know, I used to ice fish with my grandfather, and we can no longer ice fish on our favorite lake that our family cabin is on because it doesn’t get cold enough in the winter,” is a story Henderson told of one family that had their climate change “aha moment.” that might “have to do with family traditions or hobbies that people have.”

Mystik Dan #3, ridden by jockey Brian J. Hernandez Jr. (R), crosses the finish line ahead of Sierra … More Leone #2, ridden by jockey Tyler Gaffalione and Forever Young, ridden by jockey Ryusei Sakai to win the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 04, 2024 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

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She said some skiers talk say they can no longer ski their favorite slopes because of droughts caused by climate change. Even the Kentucky Derby is at risk from climate change, Henderson said, because “they’ve gotten to the point where sometimes it’s too hot for the horses to be out. It’s not safe.”

Think local: When a hurricane strikes in their neighborhood, especially if it’s never happened before, or is more extreme than ever, such as with Hurricanes Helene or Harvey, the residents get more engaged on climate change. Those events also highlight that it’s a really, really bad time to cut the National Weather Service and its agency NOAA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, both of which the Trump administration is cutting.

Fire-affected residents meet with FEMA officials on January 14, 2025 in Pasadena, California, where … More a FEMA Disaster Recovery Center opened today to help homeowners, renters, businesses and non-profits with their economic recovery. (Photo by Frederic J. BROWN / AFP) (Photo by FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images)

AFP via Getty Images

“It’s going to take a village of messengers and messages to reach people,” Henderson added, “at the end of the day also crises do often unify us.”

“Mother Nature does not care what your political affiliation is.”

Listen to the full interview with Chelsea Henderson on Electric Ladies Podcast here. Attend The Earth Day Women’s Summit on April 22nd in Dallas, TX.