why people don't recognize climate change is beyond me
I think most people recognize it (although, I've met a few "head in the sand" types of people who deny it outright)
...I think the main division is centered around how immediate/catastrophic it is, and the legislative efforts proposed to address it.
I listen to some podcasts/speeches/shows/debates/etc... from people on both side of the fence.
While there are a few that make silly claims like "climate change is a just a liberal hoax", the more prevailing theory I hear from conservative types on the issue is
"
Is the climate changing? Yes
Are humans the cause of it? Most likely
Do I think it's going to kill us in the next 50 years? Probably not
Is imposing a bunch of strict restrictions on ourselves (that will harm us in international trade in competition with China and India) going to solve the issue? No
"
...and they do have a point there. Even if the US did everything right starting tomorrow, that only addresses 10% of the problem, and China (who's responsible for a third of the problem, globally) becoming more competitive against all of the western countries - and likely not going to be changing their behavior anytime soon - isn't a good thing.
It'd be one thing if it were a scenario where "If the US does everything right starting tomorrow, climate crisis = solved in 5 years, and if we don't do it, we'll all be dead in 10 years", that would be worth making some economic concessions for.
However, if imposing a bunch of strict rules on ourselves isn't going to solve the problem (and we know China, India, and Russia aren't going to play ball and change their systems), people in the business sector are right to have some objections to some of the proposals.