Young Americans Want Republicans to Support Climate Policy
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 by BRIAN MARTINEZ taking a toll, and this climate alarmism is amplified by a lack of political action on both sides of the aisle. Climate “Republicans don’t care about climate change.” This is the message young Americans have always alarmism isn’t going to get us anywhere. In fact, it just heard from the kitchen tables to lecture halls, and all the stresses people out. Instead, solutions-first approaches are way to national primetime television. To an extent, it’s been crucial to fight climate change. Solutions-first approaches are exactly what Americans true in the past. It wasn’t that long ago when the head of the are hungry for, not regulatory Republican Party and most prominent restrictions or “red tape” hindering Republican said that climate change innovative growth. That’s a message was a “Chinese hoax.” Republicans can easily sell. Investing Time and time again we have in emission-reducing practices doesn’t seen that party leaders from both have to be at the expense of American sides of the aisle put climate action jobs. In fact, if done right, it can create on the back burner to focus on other more jobs and spark innovation all issues that rile up the base like border while combating climate change. security, the economy, and other social We’ve already seen how investment issues. It’s clear that climate change in clean energy has brought muchis one of the great threats facing the needed and significant revenue to rural United States – and the world – in the communities in the past. 21st century. But just because young Republicans should also people may say that Republicans Brian Martinez campaign on a commitment to natural don’t care about climate change or the climate solutions like conservation environment, they overwhelmingly Time and time again of our forests and the restoration of agree that Republicans should care — we have seen that eroded coastal habitats. Our polling 73% of them in fact! also showed that a staggering 79% of Young people are passionate party leaders from young Americans say “planting more about the environment. From marches, both sides of the aisle trees and restoring natural ecosystems rallies, petitions, and through advocacy, put climate action on would be effective in fighting climate they are making it clear that climate change.” Scientists have also estimated action is a priority. Unfortunately, the back burner to that natural climate solutions can many of them think only Democrats focus on other issues account for more than one-third of take climate change seriously, but they that rile up the base. the emissions reductions desperately often end up disappointed. In 2020, needed to meet our 2030 goals. A oneit’s estimated that 60% of Americans size-fits-all approach won’t work when under the age of 30 voted for Joe Biden. Yet, barely over one year into his presidency, 53% of it comes to truly reducing emissions. Natural solutions are them now believe that the country is on the wrong track. Why crucial to fighting climate change and Republicans can lead the charge. is that? Put simply, lack of tangible action. Transitioning to a clean future presents us with a According to my organization’s recent polling, more than half of young Democrats and Republicans want a myriad of opportunities to create jobs while protecting our balance between protecting the environment and growing lands. If Republicans can commit to this message and win the economy. Unfortunately, the Democrats currently in at the ballot box, real climate action will follow. The time RF power are proposing we spend trillions while expanding the to act is now and the generation to do it is ours. size of government, not paying attention to the economic consequences of reckless spending. With the midterm Brian Martinez is the midwestern regional director for the election coming up later this year, Republicans have an American Conservation Coalition. 10
RIPON FORUM May 2022
