Are We Beyond Peak Climate? With Ruy Teixeira
Not… exactly, says The Liberal Patriot.
What you’ll get in this episode of Energy Thinks
Ruy Teixeira, the provocative author and host of The Liberal Patriot podcast (and a nonresident senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute), joins me in this episode to talk about the political dynamics affecting The Myth and The Moment.
Why Ruy?
Ruy is a must-listen for our industry: He brings unique value to decision-makers today through data-driven insights into demographic shifts and electoral dynamics—insights that often challenge conventional partisan assumptions (such as that voters care about climate action).
In this episode, Ruy emphasizes how political, economic, and social realities are demanding a new kind of pragmatism around energy and climate. The Moment is real—and it’s rich with opportunity for oil and gas leaders who are ready to engage. Ruy invites us to consider: In the era of energy pragmatism, how do we become bridge builders? How do we offer climate-concerned allies a credible off-ramp—one that allows them to stay true to their values but be grounded in reality?
Ruy and I unpack the recently everywhere vision of abundance. Its adherents include an understated commitment to rapid decarbonization—along with an aversion to fossil fuels and strong belief in an impending climate catastrophe. We ask: Can the abundance movement make room for energy pragmatism, including a long-term role for natural gas and carbon capture—and for the people who know how to scale them?
Some of Ruy’s insights
On public opinion on energy and climate policies: “If you look where the average voter is, I think they would be happy with the middle ground. They’re concerned with their lives, with energy abundance, and how much their energy costs.”
On moving beyond the extreme polarization of energy and climate politics: “It’s much more important and much more likely that if there’s a break, it will come from politicians who have to respond to voters—voters who, in fact, do not want what the climate-NGO-industrial complex wants.”
On moving beyond peak apocalypse: “Would it therefore be fair to say we’re in a post-climate era? I don’t know about that; let’s say maybe we’re in a post-climate-catastrophist era.”
On what Ruy is most optimistic about: “It’s a lot easier to have this kind of conversation now, certainly on the left, than it would have been three or four years ago.”
Bonus content!
The Liberal Patriot podcast: Ruy’s interviews with Marc Dunkelman and Derek Thompson.
Ruy’s compelling piece published January 9, 2025: “The Unstoppable Rise of Energy Realism.”
Ruy’s survey analysis, co-written with Roger Pielke Jr.: “The Clean Energy Transition’s Voter Problem.”
Tisha’s Both of These Things Are True newsletter published on November 21, 2024: “Practical Environmentalism Is Inevitable.”
Watch the episode on YouTube or listen to the podcast on Substack to hear Tisha and Ruy discuss The Myth and The Moment.
What to do next in The Moment
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From catastrophism to pragmatism,
Tisha
Catastrophe and change, though categorically different, are equally fit as modalities of advertising, and advertising campaigns are the primary features of the Climate Wars.
Before proceeding AEI might benefit from reviewing the extent to which was recognized at the inception of hostilities between climate policy realists governed by the state of the science , and those seeking to control the scientific narrative because the environment has always been a splendid excuse for societal intervention.
Here is exhibit A , published in The National Interest in 1990
https://vvattsupwiththat.blogspot.com/2015/04/a-war-against-fire.html