Beyond Partisanship in Climate Action – Chelsea Henderson, Director of Editorial Content at RepublicEn.org; Author of “Glacial: The Inside Story of Climate Politics”
Release Date: 03/04/2025
Electric Ladies Podcast - Women Leaders Discuss Careers, Trends, Technologies and Innovation in Energy, Climate, and Corporate Responsibility
"The climate crisis has roots in fossil fuels, but at the same time, fossil fuels fund this Russian invasion to Ukraine. So it means this is a fossil fuel war. If we will actually fight against our overall actually dependency on fossil fuels in the same way we will fight against climate change." Svitlana Krakovska on Electric Ladies Podcast The climate emergency is a security threat, and a “threat multiplier,” as former Defense Undersecretary Sherri Goodman has written. Looking at security in the same way as it has been is no longer working. The old view leaves us very vulnerable....
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“Food systems have to do with everything from production to processing, distribution, and the utilization. Then of course, end of life for food systems which includes food waste. In the United States, 40% of the food that we produce goes to waste. This means with distribution challenges that not everybody has equitable access to the kinds of foods that they need and want, at the times that they need them." Robin Currey on Electric Ladies Podcast Climate change is disrupting our food and agriculture systems, including the critical supply chains that feed and clothe us. Yet,...
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“Most things when it comes to corporate sustainability do not happen in a vacuum. I am part of an environmental sustainability team, but we would not be able to accomplish anything without our energy teams, our network teams, and more. The ability to take what can be a complex idea and translate that into a compelling business case often comes down to dollars and cents. While it takes time, that's how we've been able to drive change.” Rosie Austin on Electric Ladies Podcast In a poll at The Earth Day Women’s Summit in Dallas, Texas, 100% of respondents said that business is...
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“Our core business is harvesting and collecting the by-product from coal combustion plants historically, called fly ash. We introduce it into supplementary cementitious materials to create a Portland cement replacement. We are pushing for 20% and even 30% [replacement of traditional cement] and hopefully reaching 100% one day with our technologies that are still in development.” Marci Jenks on Electric Ladies Podcast We need infrastructure that’s safe, strong, durable and climate resilient. To build our cities, roads, bridges and more, 30 billion tonnes of concrete is poured around the...
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“Change is a constant. This is the world that we live in. And so how do you decide what needs to change and transform? The best leaders have certain traits about them when it comes to leading an organisation through change. Great leaders have an ability to communicate and inspire and they never get tired of doing it. Or if they get tired, they keep doing it anyway because constant communication is essential when you're going through change.” Deborah Lee James on Electric Ladies podcast (previously Green Connections Radio) Many companies are scaling back their climate,...
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“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.” This week, Congress is set to debate legislation that could reshape the United States’ energy landscape. At stake is more than $700...
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“How do we get people in the tent to even hear the story? With ‘Living with Ed’ and other projects, we were a family they could identify with. We were yelling, laughing, loving each other while talking about real issues. I represented the average person’s perspective on issues like taking the subway. There’s the funny, and there’s the conflict. If it’s not entertaining, it’s not going to connect.” Rachelle Begley on Electric Ladies Podcast Culture wars around climate change do more harm than good. As climate-driven extreme weather events become more frequent,...
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“We did lots of infrastructure investments over the last handful of years to make sure our communities are in the best possible place they can be. And we complemented federal investment with workforce investment to ensure Michiganders are getting access to those kinds of roles, some of which didn't even exist previously. [This ensures] that Michigan communities could benefit from learning to be solar installers and get access to new economic income streams.” Hilary Doe on Electric Ladies Podcast The Justice Department is suing Michigan over its climate initiatives under the Clean Air...
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“Blue state pension funds are doubling down on sustainability while red state pension funds are firing you. Companies are challenged because for some constituencies, they have to demonstrate their sustainability credentials, and for others, they have to hide them. So it's a really challenging time. But if you can demonstrate the business case, then maybe you can navigate being more proactive with those constituencies that really want this, and alleviating the risks with those constituencies that don't understand why it matters.” Tensie Whelan on Electric Ladies Podcast Mother Nature...
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“I've been particularly passionate about working with women in those communities to teach them about new techniques so they can understand how to run their farm more effectively, but also understand their rights as women in those communities so they have a stronger voice…. And because they were called an ‘ambassador,’ their status in the village rose.” Alison Ward on Electric Ladies Podcast Have you ever wondered where your shirt really comes from, or where the cotton in your jeans was grown? While the tag might tell you where they were made, it won't tell you where the cotton...
info_outline“We're ceding ground to China, which has become everyone's favorite punching bag. Whether Democrat or Republican, both sides are beating up on China. Meanwhile, China is saying, ‘Okay, we'll make all your solar panels, electric and autonomous vehicles,’ because they see the financial opportunities. It's past time for the U.S. and our politicians to step out of their corners and come together – this is the greatest crisis we will ever face.”
Chelsea Henderson on Electric Ladies Podcast
Political polarization may have stifled discussions on the climate, but Mother Nature doesn’t ask what party you’re in before wiping out your community with a hurricane, tornado or wildfire. In addition, 80% of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) funding has gone to Republican districts – which also happen to have some of the highest potential for economic development through clean energy. At least 18 House Republicans even urged Speaker Mike Johnson not to cut clean energy tax credits in their districts because of the economic growth spurred by these investments.
What does the conservative answer to climate change look like? Listen to Chelsea Henderson, Director of Editorial Content at RepublicEn, a non-profit organization that provides a safe space for conservatives to have open discussions about climate change and related solutions. She also has extensive experience on Capitol Hill working for Republican senators, as well as the National Wildlife Federation and The Nature Conservancy, and wrote the extraordinary best-selling book “Glacial: The inside story of climate politics.”
You’ll hear about:
- Bridging the partisan divide on climate policy.
- The economic opportunities and benefits of investing in clean energy and climate resilience in Republican-led states.
- The longstanding history of GOP presidents and candidates who have championed climate action – and the need for courageous lawmakers who do so today.
- How climate-related disasters and personal experiences spur engagement on climate issues, regardless of political affiliation.
- The role of effective messaging and messengers in engaging the conservative community on climate change.
- Plus, valuable career advice, especially for considering a career pivot.
"Playing into your interests and strengths is important. It’s become a bit of a cliché to say, ‘Do what you love, and everything will fall into place,’ because it’s not that easy. I try not to say no to opportunities. Instead, I try to say yes more and engage with other women, because women are incredible at supporting one another. Leaning into that support system – hearing about the pitfalls, the challenges, what was hard, what was easy – is invaluable.
“For me, writing Glacial was a turning point. I’ve always loved writing, and that’s how I transitioned from being a lobbyist to more of a messenger. I thought, ‘I know a lot about climate change, and I’m a good writer. How can I build a career around that?’ That mindset helped shape my path.”
Chelsea Henderson on Electric Ladies Podcast
Read Joan’s Forbes articles here.
You’ll also like:
- Dr. Stephanie Hare, researcher, broadcaster and author, on harnessing AI for climate action.
- Jennifer Hough, on connecting through curiosity to build bridges across the divide and find constructive solutions.
- Daniella Ortega, Director of “Carbon: An Unauthorized Biography”, on how to communicate climate messages in stories.
- Jill Tidman from The Redford Center on how we can talk about the climate while ensuring a balanced narrative.
- Michelle Wyman, the National Council for Science and the Environment, about how to talk about science with lawmakers. (recorded under Green Connections Radio)
- Erin McLaughlin, Senior Economist, The Conference Board, about her new report on buildings, climate change and carbon emissions.
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