To Young Republicans, Climate Change is Fact, Not Fiction By Danielle Butcher Pollinghasrevealedthataddressinghumancausedclimatechangeisnotafringeconcern amongyoungmembersoftheGOP, butone thatmanyfeelquitestronglyabout

To Young Republicans, Climate Change Is Fact, NotFiction

by DANIELLE BUTCHER

The Republican Party has resoundingly rejected Republicans are looking for sustainable, common sense outlandish policy proposals born out of climate change solutions to combat climate change. They do not want alarmism, chiefly the Green New Deal. Rejecting the to be forced to choose between a strong economy and heavy-handed and burdensome tactics of these policy lowering greenhouse gas emissions. Luckily, that is a fixes was certainly the correct choice, but in rejecting false dichotomy. the strategy of these proposals, the GOP has developed The Republican Party has a golden opportunity to a proclivity toward treating climate change as fiction, lead in the green space. Not only is addressing the issue disregarding a key voting bloc important if the GOP wants to that is concerned about the issue: retain younger voters, but there young Republicans. has never been a better time

Polling has revealed that to present a new way forward. addressing human-caused climate Instead of relying on the same change is not a fringe concern government-led, economically among young Republicans, but unsound approach, Republicans one that many feel quite strongly can present policy options that about. A recent poll of voters position the United States as between the ages of 18 and 35 an economic leader as well as conducted by my organization, environmental leader. the American Conservation One key way to lead the Coalition, found that 77 percent way forward on a new climate of right-leaning young voters change strategy is by advancing consider climate change an issue both energy innovation and that is personally important to Danielle Butcher diversity in energy sources, a them. More than 50 percent of winning issue among young those right-leaning voters said Polling has revealed that Republicans.The American that the topic of climate change addressing human-caused Energy Innovation Act (AEIA), would impact how they voted in 2020. climate change is not a recently introduced in the U.S. Senate, is a package of

Additional polling by the fringe concern among more than fifty energy-related Pew Research Center echoes young Republicans, but measures that would directly this message. Among young Republicans, 52 percent think one that many feel quite work to advance an innovationbased approach to clean energy the federal government is doing strongly about. while also strengthening too little to combat the impact our domestic economy and of climate change. There is even national security. Senator Lisa more support for the development of alternative energy Murkowski (R-AK), one of the driving forces behind the sources, with 78 percent of young Republicans behind package, stated: the idea. However, 46 percent of these same young “This bill is our best chance to modernize our Republicans are concerned that environmental policy nation’s energy policies in more than 12 years. By could have a harmful impact on the economy. working together to pass it into law, we can promote

It is evident that if Republicans do not take a range of emerging technologies that will help keep addressing climate change seriously, they are at risk energy affordable even as it becomes cleaner and cleaner. of completely losing young voters. But these young Our bill also addresses national needs by taking overdue voters are also looking for policy proposals that are steps to enhance our cybersecurity, grid security, and different from those being put forth by the left. Young mineral security.”

Another important pillar of a sustainable approach retain us as voters, party leaders and elected officials to climate change is reducing the amount of carbon must act now and seize the opportunity to lead the way already in our atmosphere. Trees are an excellent forward with innovative climate solutions. example of this in the natural world, but this can be There is undoubtedly a path forward that does expanded through carbon capture and storage (CCS). not compromise our principles. Near the end of Legislation has been April, my organization introduced that would launched The American encourage the research Not only is addressing the issue Climate Contract, the and development important if the GOP wants to conservative response of carbon-negative technology. Other pieces retain younger voters, but there has to climate change. This proposal promotes a of legislation encourage never been a better time to present market-based strategy, the protection and restoration of natural a new way forward. fueled by innovation and American ingenuity. ecosystems that capture Thousands of our young carbon, like oceans and coastal marshes. conservative allies have been mobilized by the potential

Young Republicans are hungry for a new vision of a conservative climate plan because, for us, climate of climate change proposals, ones that are rooted in change is fact, not fiction. RF market-based solutions and limited, not overreaching, government. Some may tell you that we sound like Danielle Butcher is the executive vice president and Democrats. That’s simply not true. Our conservative chief operating officer at the American Conservation principles are sound, but we are clearly prioritizing Coalition, an organization that engages young environmental issues. If Republicans would like to conservatives on environmental issues.

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