Opinion

In Harvey’s wake, will Abbott still deny climate change?

Texas Governor Greg Abbott speaks next to President Donald Trump at the Texas Department of Public Safety Emergency Operations Center in Corpus Christi, Texas on Tuesday. Both have dabbled in climate change denial. Perhaps Harvey will change that. less Texas Governor Greg Abbott speaks next to President Donald Trump at the Texas Department of Public Safety Emergency Operations Center in Corpus Christi, Texas on Tuesday. Both have dabbled in climate change ... more Photo: JIM WATSON /AFP /Getty Images Photo: JIM WATSON /AFP /Getty Images Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close In Harvey’s wake, will Abbott still deny climate change? 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

When he was running for governor, Greg Abbott threw plenty of shade on climate science.

The climate was changing long before the discovery of fossil fuels, he said. He warned against politicized science and injected doubt into the debate.

“This matter needs to continue to be investigated,” he wrote to this Editorial Board in 2014.

Abbott was in a position to say so much more, but chose instead to stick with the usual GOP talking points. Faced with scientific consensus, inject doubt.

In responding to Hurricane Harvey, with its unprecedented flooding and destruction, Abbott has repeatedly said this is a “new normal.” It is a new normal in Houston and on the coast. Cities have been leveled. Neighborhoods have been flooded. Texas will be grappling with Harvey for years in ways that are difficult to imagine or fully understand.

But Abbott would be wrong to continue his climate-denying ways. Accepting climate science should be part of the “new normal.”

That’s not to politicize an unprecedented storm. It’s to honor the tragedy and suffering we are witnessing — and do our best to mitigate future storms.

Climate change didn’t cause Harvey, but scientists have been clear it played a role in amplifying the storm. Just as they have been clear that climate change will amplify and strengthen some future storms.

Climate change has made sea levels higher, about 6 inches in the Gulf of Mexico. Higher sea levels mean higher storm surges. It’s also made water temperatures warmer, and the Gulf of Mexico has been exceptionally warm. Warm water means more moisture in the air, which means more energy for storms.

Climate change may have also helped keep Harvey in place, stalled over Houston — though this point is more tenuous.

Climate scientist Michael E. Mann of Pennsylvania State University has said this fits a jet-stream pattern in climate change models.

The science has been abundantly clear about this and other likely outcomes. There will be more droughts and famine, but also heavier rains and intense flooding. As sea levels rise, coastal communities will flood.

In responding to the storm, Abbott has struck a calm and unifying tone. He has been right to focus on the immediate safety of Texans in floodwaters.

But what about the long game? Is he prepared to accept the science, develop state policies and push for federal policies to mitigate climate change in Texas and beyond? He’s in a unique position to turn GOP orthodoxy on climate.

Unfortunately, it’s easy to have doubts because Abbott often hasn’t shown this type of substantive leadership. He has been more open to Kid Rock as a potential U.S. Senate candidate than climate science. His leadership has been mostly about division — cities, the federal government, immigrants, Democrats, House Speaker Joe Straus — than vision. He has supported policies that are often misleading.

He signed legislation slashing penalties for insurers that delay paying claims, which will harm some storm victims.

In the special and regular sessions, Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick proclaimed reducing property taxes was a top priority, and then fought hard for legislation that didn’t meaningfully reduce property taxes.

Abbott supported the bathroom bill, which would have invited economic boycotts for targeting transgender Texans for a nonexistent problem.

He prioritized the divisive and problematic sanctuary cities law.

This might play well in a GOP primary, but it diminishes the statewide office.

It also reflects a type of cynical politics. One that is devoid of real ideas and policies.

As in, it’s pretty cynical to invite economic boycotts over discriminatory legislation that addresses a nonexistent problem. It’s misleading to champion property tax reform legislation that doesn’t really reduce property taxes. It’s irresponsible to ignore and doubt the abundance of climate science.

Texas is facing an unprecedented catastrophe. The rain falls on all. The rebuilding falls to all. Democrats and Republicans, cities and rural areas, Christians, Muslims, gay, straight and transgender.

A proper response requires substantive unifying leadership followed with meaningful policies. In the past, Abbott has too willingly set these aside. May that change with the storm.

JBrodesky@express-news.net