Democrats and Republicans clash fiercely on many issues.
Miller investigation, immigration, gun control
But can the two sides come together on the biggest issue of climate change?
Most analysts said no.
After all, since President Trump took office, some government websites have removed the terms "global warming" and "climate change. Mr.
Trump said his "very high level of intelligence" led him to reject the findings of 13 federal agencies, the Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change and the World Meteorological Organization.
But how many of his Republican colleagues agree?
If we compare the extremes on each side
Liberal Democrats and conservative Republicans
As the media often do, differences are obvious.
But if we compare all Republicans to all Democrats, we see a new, encouraging overlap.
Long before the most destructive wildfire in California's history, Yale's climate change communications program and George Mason's Center for Climate Change communications investigated 1,067 registered voters on climate change.
The study found that while most of the two parties disagree on the causes of global warming, they all agree that the world is experiencing global warming and call on the government to take action to address the problem.
The survey asked if the United States should "set strict carbon dioxide emission restrictions on existing coal --
Even if "electricity costs for consumers and companies may increase", power plants can be used to reduce global warming and improve public health. ” Eighty-
7% of Democrats and 56% of Republicans support it.
If the United States requires fossil fuel companies to pay a carbon tax and use the money to reduce other taxes (
Income Tax)
Is the amount equal? Eighty-
4% of Democrats and 56% of Republicans support it.
Q: "When there is a conflict between environmental protection and economic growth, which one do you think is more important?
85% of Democrats and 52% of Republicans believe environmental protection should be the first.
The survey also found that most of the two parties believe that the government should fund research on solar and wind energy to provide tax rebates for those who buy energy --
Efficient vehicles and solar panels and encourage schools to teach children about the causes and consequences of global warming and potential solutions.
Most Democrats and Republicans believe that no matter what other countries do, the United States should participate in the Paris climate agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
A study conducted by ABC news and resources firm Stanford University in June revealed similar trends.
The survey found that 66% of Republicans believe that the rise in temperature is "mainly or partly caused by humans ".
Another poll released last month by the University of Monmouth, New Jersey, showed that most Republicans now support action to combat climate change.
To be sure, not every vote shows the same content.
Recently, a poll by NBC News/Wall Street Journal asked people if they thought climate change was "serious" and asked for "immediate action"
Compared with 15% of Democrats, only about 71% of Republicans say yes.
It is worth noting that the survey did not require an opinion on specific remedies, as the Yale study did --
This is also where the two sides seem to find more common ground.
In 2016, we went to the countryside of Luiz Anna State and visited Mike Shaff, a supporter of Trump and the Tea Party, who recently retired from his career in the oil industry.
He lost his beloved home because a reckless drilling company caused a huge sinkhole and became an active board member of the Luiz Anna State Green Army,
But about climate change.
Schaff shook his head.
"In 50 years, I will worry about global warming," he said . ".
Fishing at the estuary later
He told us: "We have run out of oil anyway, so I want to rely on clean energy.
You don't have to drill.
As long as it's as cheap as fossil fuel and feasible, I think we should change.
This will make us independent.
He continued, "it's time for a modern society --
The Day Manhattan project aims to change the way humans use and produce energy.
"Even if they don't agree with everything, climate change activists will embrace Americans like Mike Shaff very well.
Many conservative Republicans believe that the terrible news of climate change usually comes from alarmist liberals who belittle their religious beliefs and succumb to their elite, as well as a federal government
Trump forgot them.
Strangely, Americans living near extreme floods and fires are less likely to worry about climate change than those who are away from the threat of this disaster.
But that doesn't mean they can't change their minds.
The study by the University of Colorado psychologist Leaf Van Boven and two colleagues pointed out the impact of the "policy Party", and people's perception of the carbon tax depends not so much on the content of the proposal, but rather on the party they think is proposed.
This is true for both Democrats and Republicans.
So maybe Republicans just have to listen to the messengers they trust.
A study showed that a speech by a evangelical climate scientist changed the view of the evangelical university to study climate skeptics.
Again, we need to find ways to show science.
Those who suspect Republican oil workers are leaders of Exxon, Chevron, ConocoPhillips and BP who have acknowledged the risks of climate change and must take steps to address the issue.
Republicans who admire the military very much can learn that the Pentagon has acknowledged the risk of climate change as a way of security issues and quietly set out to install renewable energy projects at bases across the country.
Democrats should celebrate the leading Republicans on climate change.
Kevin Faulconer, the Republican mayor of San Diego, recently announced that his city is committed to 100% renewable energy by 2035, a "non-partisan issue"
It's 10 years ahead of California Democratic Governor Jerry Brown's goal for the state. Twenty-
Renewable energy missions in nine countries;
The Republican governor signed the bill.
Two former Republican secretaries of State George Schultz and James Baker have called for a step-by-step increase in carbon taxes, all directly targeting the American people.
A family of four will receive a "carbon bonus" of about $2,000 a year ".
"The idea is similar to the support of the nonpartisan citizen climate lobby group, which has more than 100,000 members and chapters across the country.
It helped form the bipartisan House Climate Solutions Caucus and supported the bipartisan energy innovation and carbon dividend bill before Congress.
So while Americans have been watching the differences between Democrats and Republicans, the more important gap now may be the gap between Republican voters and their elected leaders.
Of course, unpredictable weather is not fresh, but recent events have made it harder than ever to ignore climate change, let alone deny it.
Over the past two years, wildfires in California have burned nearly 3 million acres of land, while hurricanes have hit the Southeast with increasing intensity.
Smoking ruins in California paradise
Houston's flooded houses, in their own way, are as shocking and devastating as the tragedy of Sept. 11.
Climate change is another emergency.
It didn't happen in a day, and no one ordered it.
But in the long run, it will have more impact.
Now is the time for us to work together across parties to solve this problem.
Arlie hochschchild is emerita, professor of sociology at the University of California, Berkeley, and author of the stranger on his own Land: Anger and Mourning for the right wing of the United States.
Her son, David Hochschild, is a member of the California Energy Committee of the California energy policy and planning agency.
Focus on the New York Times Opinion section on Facebook and Twitter (@NYTopinion)and Instagram.