REI CEO Sally Jewell – now President Obama’s nominee for Interior Secretary – explained in 2007 that she supported some of the ideas behind the cap-and-trade proposal – a controversial tax scheme to offset carbon emissions.

“I think cap-and-trade is very intriguing,” Jewell said in a 2007 interview with Forbes. “I think if you look at its application to [curbing] sulfur dioxide, you can say, “Here’s a success story.” So I think it’s something that should be very seriously looked at.”

Jewell called for “real change” in the country’s approach to climate change suggesting that it was important to help businesses see the cost savings benefits of reducing their carbon footprint.

“I think expecting voluntary changes that aren’t in people’s economic interest [are] probably not likely to make the kind of change that needs to happen, she explained. “If it’s in people’s interest to invest in renewables and invest in clean technologies, I’m convinced it will happen.”