(originally published by The Hill )

As the U.N. climate change talks begin in Durban, South Africa, it is time to emphasize that most conservative parties around the world agree with climate change advocates that strong action is needed. Those American conservatives who disagree that climate change is a major threat are isolated from majority of their conservative counterparts around the world.

Mitt Romney once agreed, more or less, that climate change demands urgent action. Newt Gingrich once stood side by side with Nancy Pelosi on this vital world issue. Al Gore, to his great credit, has been a world leader for a generation on climate change.

As the Durban talks begin, it is a good time to emphasize that those in the conservative movement in the United States who continue to deny facts, science and reason are isolated from world opinion, and alienated from the majority view of conservatives around the world.

Standing ovation for those Republicans willing to respect science, honor facts and combat this danger to the world. They are fewer in number than they should be because others are intimidated by a know-nothing attitude of denial, from a faction of the Republican right that takes campaign money from those who profit by polluting the planet.

I applaud Al Gore's leadership.

I applaud the long and prestigious list of conservatives from around the world who agree that climate change is a global threat that demands urgent action.

As we watch the progress of the Durban summit, let's remember the long list of conservatives from around the world who join the call to action, and not the call to denial.