Treating the environment as a partisan issue allows politics to trump steady progress in favor of political boom-and-bust cycles — booms when the “good” party is in power, bust when the political cycle inevitably turns and the “bad” party takes center stage.

Lasting environmental progress will be possible only when both parties make an effort to work together for the good of the country, rather than for partisan advantage.

For that to happen, Republicans must rediscover the stewardship ethic that is at the heart of traditional conservatism and be willing to show environmental leadership. Democrats must set aside stereotyping and give a fair hearing to conservative ideas for taking care of the environment.

There are no Republican rivers, nor are there Democratic forests.