“We have to kind of achieve the baseline of facts and science on which we normally as Americans have made decisions,” Kerry told CNN’s Dana Bash when asked about his message to Republicans doubtful about the threat of climate change.
“And when we decide to do things, what’s exciting is, this is good for all Americans,” he continued. “This is going to be the greatest market, the greatest job creator since the Industrial Revolution, and I think Republicans will see that.”
“I’ll tell you why this will stick — because trillions of dollars are going to be spent and invested all around the world,” he said during the town hall, adding that “that money that is being invested, no politician could come along and undo what is going to happen in the transformation of our economies on a global basis.”
‘Tobacco-style’ health warnings for pollution
The CNN town hall also featured White House national climate adviser Gina McCarthy, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan and Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm.
“I think education on every level is important, I think the public deserves a right to know who is contributing to pollution in this society,” Regan said. “At EPA, you know, that’s out of our lane, but I think in terms of a good general practice, the public needs to understand and at EPA, this is why we’re putting our websites back up, we’re publishing our science.”
He continued, “We want people to know that in addition to what the government can do to regulate and control these emissions, that we can empower them with information so that they can make decisions for themselves as well.”
CNN’s Kate Sullivan, Kevin Liptak and Hanna Ziady contributed to this report.