VOTE
If you spend time reading and talking about climate change, you run into two different camps. One camp emphasizes individual or small group actions. The other camp believes these are a waste of time, and only large scale change led by governments and corporations can make a difference.
I think both are important. Getting involved in creating a healthier environment in your home, workplace, or community is absolutely worthwhile. And if you are taking steps to fight climate change, even small individual steps, you are on the right path. The early steps can lead to bigger and more impactful actions.
The easiest way to help create the large scale, systemic change that we need is to vote.
The United States is extremely divisive right now. The presidential race is feeling rocky, and the shooting at Donald Trump’s Pennsylvania rally was unsettling. I never agree with gun violence. We have countless other ways to express ourselves including voting.
While considering the many important issues being debated, remember that if you vote for a politician who approves of expanding our fossil fuel use, then you are also voting for unchecked climate disasters and sea level rise. Extreme weather including heatwaves, drought, and floods are all made worse by human-caused climate change from burning fossil fuels. If you are curious about why this matters so much right now, The Nature Conservancy has a great FAQ about climate change. Scroll down and read How much renewable energy do we need to stop climate change?
An important target the United Nations has is to reduce carbon emissions by 45% by 2030, and instead, based on current climate plans, global carbon emissions will still likely have increased instead of decreasing over those six years. Continuing the investment in renewable energy instead of burning fossil fuels is the solution. About 100 years ago in 1931, insightful inventor Thomas Edison said, “I’d put my money on the sun and solar energy. What a source of power! I hope we don’t have to wait until oil and coal run out before we tackle that.”
If you want to keep fighting for a livable climate, vote for those who facilitate a clean energy transition, and protect vulnerable communities and biodiversity. According to the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication, 37% of registered voters in the U.S. say that climate change is very important and they will vote for a candidate who supports climate action. An additional 25% think climate change is not as important, but they will still vote for a candidate who supports climate action. That’s good news! That is 62% of the people polled who prefer a candidate who is working to protect our environment.
Below is an article by Arielle Samuelson of Heated. It shares an interpretation of the data by news site Carbon Brief that compares the climate impact of a future Biden or Trump presidency. In the end, it’s not specific to Biden, the assumption is that any Democratic president would at least uphold the current climate and environmental policies, whereas Trump would roll them back. It’s a very interesting read.
It’s not too soon to be engaged and informed about the policies and plans of those running for office this fall. Instead of relying on social media’s algorithms, subscribe to a trusted national news source, and also a local newspaper. If you are curious about the reliability of a news source, check out this interactive rating system from Ad Fontes Media.
Another tool to understand a politician’s stance is to check their past voting record. Type a name in at Vote Smart and choose a tab- Bio, Votes, Positions, Ratings, Speeches, or Funding. This is a great way to learn more about the priorities of these decision makers.
In addition to these sort of dry, homework-y tasks, let’s have some fun and make art! We can combat those weird social media memes with actual creative, heartfelt visuals. This year’s presidential election feels VERY important for so many reasons, climate issues included, so let’s start now to spread the word on what is important to each of us. Talking about, or making art about climate change is a way to get people thinking, and hopefully ready to vote with climate in mind.
Above in this article are two Vote signs I made. You are welcome to click on them and and print or use them online if you want. Or, click on the blank VOTE below, print, and make your own sign!
And finally, a sobering thought from the remarkable Katharine Hayhoe, "This isn’t about saving the planet. The planet itself will survive. The question is what will happen to the rest of us who live here."
-Katharine Hayhoe from All We Can Save, edited by Ayana Elizabeth Johnson and Katharine K. Wilkinson
