Piyush “Bobby” Jindal (R-LA) is a former governor of Louisiana. Jindal served as governor of Louisiana from 2008 until 2016. Jindal was briefly a Republican presidential candidate during the 2016 election, before renouncing his candidacy to support Marco Rubio (R-FL). Before running for governor Jindal served as the president of the University of Louisiana system, and was appointed by President George W. Bush to be an advisor to the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services. Jindal has also served as the only Republican member of Congress who is of Indian-American descent.
Jindal has an interesting take on climate change. He does not deny that it exists, at least openly, but he is often opposed to and has been critical of exploring solutions to combat climate change. He was quoted in 2014 saying “human activity is having an impact on the climate,” but has also said that he believes that global warming is simply a way for Democrats to impose government control on the economy, and to more closely control the lives of Americans.
Jindal has been a supporter of energy plans that are worse for the environment in the long run. He is a big supporter of the Keystone XL pipeline as an alternative to other energy sources, particularly any renewable energy that may be more expensive than fossil fuels in the short run.
Jindal also opposes government regulations on energy plants that produce greenhouse gas emissions.
Jindal’s stance on climate change has a more personal impact in his home state of Louisiana, where natural disasters hit close to home. In a statement made by Jindal on the tenth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, which ravaged New Orleans, he stated: “I understand that your emphasis in New Orleans will rightly be an economic development, the temptation to stray into climate change politics should be resisted. While you and others may be of the opinion that we can legislate away hurricanes with higher taxes, business regulations and EPA power grabs, that is not a view shared by many Louisianans.” In discouraging his fellow Louisianians from pursuing environmentally friendly avenues, Jindal undermines the fact that a good deal of the damage caused by the hurricane had to do with climate change and the impact of humans on the environment. The large wetlands that had provided the Louisiana coast with shelter from the storm surges and flooding have been severely damaged or lost to human activity, and no longer provide their natural function as a buffer for flooding.
Friends of Bobby Jindal:
Steve Scalise (R-LA): Louisiana representative, climate denier
Climate of Denial