WASHINGTON A group of Republican statesmen led by former Secretary of State James A. Baker III on Tuesday introduced a carbon tax plan intended to strengthen the economy, promote national security and protect our natural heritage.

Many people in the party have looked the other way on the issue for too long, the group wrote in its proposal published by the Climate Leadership Council . And with control of the White House and Congress, the GOP now has an opportunity to set the terms of a lasting market-based climate solution.

In addition to Baker, who served under presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush, the group includes former Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and former Secretary of State George Shultz.

Mounting evidence of climate change is growing too strong to ignore, the proposal reads. While the extent to which climate change is due to man-made causes can be questioned, the risks associated with future warming are too big and should be hedged. At least we need an insurance policy.