To the editor:

You can believe in human-induced climate change and still be a conservative. It’s a conservative principal to assess risk, plan for all threats and base policy decisions on scientific evidence and facts on the ground. Climate disruption, extreme weather, and sea level rise are potential risks to our economy, our national security, and the safety of American citizens.

The military is cautious, run by some of the most conservative people in government, but 16 retired generals have lined up to stress climate change as a threat multiplier with potentially huge regional wars from less food and water. Some conservatives might look at threats as financial risk; likely worse than the Great Depression.

Others might use framing of ownership. The Pottery Barn rule: If you break it you pay for it; if you make a mess, you clean it up. Polluters and consumers must pay to clean up the poison for which we are responsible. A conservative, friendly, revenue-neutral carbon fee and dividend is a start.

Some mistakenly identify environmentalism with intent to harm the American economy rather than growing it, while protecting creation for sportsmen, agriculture and our children. Conservatives and environmentalists have a lot in common: love of community, shared ties to the land, faith, intent to leave our children a safe environment and the opportunity to prosper.

Contradicting campaign supporters’ desires, Lynn Jenkins on the House Ways and Means Committee could be hailed as preserving a livable world. It’s up to conservatives to push their fellows.