“Republicans don’t care about climate change.”
This is the message young Americans have always heard from the kitchen tables to lecture halls, and all the way to national primetime television. To an extent, it’s been true in the past. It wasn’t that long ago when the head of the Republican Party and most prominent Republican said that climate change was a “Chinese hoax.”
Time and time again we have seen that party leaders from both sides of the aisle put climate action on the back burner to focus on other issues that rile up the base like border security, the economy, and other social issues. It’s clear that climate change is one of the great threats facing the United States – and the world – in the 21st century. But just because young people may say that Republicans don’t care about climate change or the environment, they overwhelmingly agree that Republicans should care — 73% of them in fact!
Young people are passionate about the environment. From marches, rallies, petitions, and advocacy, they are making it clear that climate action is a priority. Unfortunately, many of them think only Democrats take climate change seriously, but they often end up disappointed. In 2020, it’s estimated that 60% of Americans under the age of 30 voted for Joe Biden. Yet, barely over one year into his presidency, 53% of them now believe that the country is on the wrong track. Why is that? Put simply, lack of tangible action.
Time and time again we have seen that party leaders from both sides of the aisle put climate action on the back burner to focus on other issues that rile up the base.
According to my organization’s recent polling, more than half of young Democrats and Republicans want a balance between protecting the environment and growing the economy. Unfortunately, the Democrats currently in power are proposing we spend trillions while expanding the size of government, not paying attention to the economic consequences of reckless spending. With the midterm election coming up later this year, Republicans have an incredible opportunity to campaign and win on a smarter and more balanced approach to climate policy focused on American innovation and job creation.
Recently the United Nations released the Working Group II contribution to the IPCC climate report. In this report, we see that not only are significant effects caused by climate change “baked in,” as in irreversible, but also that the report notes with “very high confidence” that climate change has significantly affected our mental health. The frequent “doom and gloom” articles on our news feeds are taking a toll, and this climate alarmism is amplified by a lack of political action on both sides of the aisle. Climate alarmism isn’t going to get us anywhere. In fact, it just stresses people out. Instead, solutions-first approaches are crucial to fight climate change.
Solutions-first approaches are exactly what Americans are hungry for, not regulatory restrictions or “red tape” hindering innovative growth. That’s a message Republicans can easily sell. Investing in emission-reducing practices doesn’t have to be at the expense of American jobs. In fact, if done right, it can create more jobs and spark innovation all while combating climate change. We’ve already seen how investment in clean energy has brought much-needed and significant revenue to rural communities in the past.
Republicans have an incredible opportunity to campaign and win on a smarter and more balanced approach to climate policy focused on American innovation and job creation.
Republicans should also campaign on a commitment to natural climate solutions like conservation of our forests and the restoration of eroded coastal habitats. Our polling also showed that a staggering 79% of young Americans say “planting more trees and restoring natural ecosystems would be effective in fighting climate change.” Scientists have also estimated that natural climate solutions can account for more than one-third of the emissions reductions desperately needed to meet our 2030 goals. A one-size-fits-all approach won’t work when it comes to truly reducing emissions. Natural solutions are crucial to fighting climate change and Republicans can lead the charge.
Transitioning to a clean future presents us with a myriad of opportunities to create jobs while protecting our lands. If Republicans can commit to this message and win at the ballot box, real climate action will follow. The time to act is now and the generation to do it is ours.
Brian Martinez is the midwestern regional director for the American Conservation Coalition.