Part of Lindsey Graham's Legacy: Climate Negotiator

Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina was known for many things during his long career in politics. But one part of his story that some people may not know is his work on climate change. Graham, a Republican, was willing to work with Democrats to find ways to address climate issues — something that was rare and important in Washington.

Graham supported the idea of cap-and-trade during the early years of President Obama's time in office. Cap-and-trade is a system where companies that pollute too much have to pay for it, while cleaner companies can sell their unused pollution allowances. He also backed putting a price on certain goods brought in from other countries if those goods were made in ways that caused a lot of pollution. These were bold positions for a Republican senator to take.

Back in 2009, Graham teamed up with Democratic Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts to write a bill about climate change. The two senators wrote an opinion piece in The New York Times called 'Yes We Can (Pass Climate Legislation).' In it, they said their work together was 'a fresh attempt to find consensus that adheres to our core principles.' They hoped their bill could get the 60 votes needed to pass in the Senate.

Nuclear energy was especially important to Graham because South Carolina has a strong nuclear power industry. He believed that clean energy and a healthy economy could go hand in hand. Greg Bertelsen, CEO of the Climate Leadership Council, said Graham 'understood early that addressing climate change didn't have to come at the expense of other national priorities.' Bertelsen added that Graham saw climate policy as a way to help American businesses and keep the country safe.

Leaders of other groups also praised Graham's work on clean energy. James Dozier, board chair of Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions, said Graham was frequently an ally to conservatives who cared about clean energy. Dozier said Graham's support for nuclear energy and bipartisan energy policies 'will be missed in the Senate.' The group focuses on getting conservatives involved in clean energy issues.

Graham was 71 years old and had served in the U.S. Senate since 2003. Before that, he served in the U.S. House of Representatives and in the South Carolina state legislature. He had been planning to run for reelection when he passed away. His long career showed that a conservative politician could care about the environment without giving up his other beliefs.