What will (or should) the politicians do?

For most US Americans, the climate crsisis is not one of the most important issues. But to many members of younger generations, it is an important concern. Regardless of your political leanings (or your family's), there is value in learning where candidates for office stand on the climate change issue. Let's share articles about candidates - regardless of party and specific office. And does this matter? Here are links to some recent articles about where former President Trump may stand.... https://apple.news/ArD_zM2NERdWxuqzDk9BScw https://apple.news/A1A4TsfBwS4mWIs6oK4QkcA https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/may/16/donald-trump-big-oil-executives-alleged-deal-explained?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other And an article about a recent action of Florida Governor DeSantis... https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/may/16/desantis-climate-change-energy-bill?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

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  1. Colton FreemanJune 4, 2024 at 2:54 PM

    While the issue of climate change has been at the forefront of many peoples' minds, the politicians that run our governments do not seem to take much issue with a matter that has a plethora of scientific data to support it. This is an issue that Anthony Leiserowitz from the Yale School of the Environment addresses in an article. In the article, Leiserowitz states that there are six main groups of Americans in regard to climate change, each with their own general mindsets and opinions on the matter. These groups' opinions range from alarmed (this is typically the group that is fighting and advocating for change) to outright dismissive (the group that fully rejects any notion of climate change). Each group has a sizeable percentage of Americans, with most ranging from approximately ten percent to thirty percent of the general population. It is these varying opinions within the American populace that influence how climate change is talked about in our politics (Leiserowitz, 2020). The politicians that these different groups elect, no matter the level they are on, can and will influence how the US handles the current climate crisis. So, how people vote is a big part of why climate change is so debated in our current government.

    Furthering this issue is the fact that some of the most prominent politicians in our government have rejected scientific information from trustworthy sources. A famous example of this in recent years was former president Donald Trump sharing climate change skepticism 115 times in various Twitter posts in the years leading up to him outright calling the matter a "hoax" during a rally back in 2017 (MSNBC, 2017). Trump has continued to share this rhetoric throughout his presidency. Aside from climate change, there have also been many politicians in recent years sharing skepticism and misinformation about issues such as COVID-19 in an attempt to create mistrust in scientists. An example of this is Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia stating in a COVID hearing that Dr. Anthony Fauci is not a doctor and attacking him for practicing false and unethical science. This argument was based on a series of fallacies and misinformation, and while it was condemned by some of her colleagues, her words were broadcast on a national scale for millions to see (PBS, 2024).

    American politicians, voted in by a wide variety of people with different opinions on science in general, consequently have varying viewpoints on the matter of climate change. If climate change in America is to ever be given serious priority in politics, it is important that people make informed decisions when voting in order to vote in people who trust in science and are able to make a change rather than obstruct climate legislation and create mistrust in the scientific community.

    Sources:

    Leiserowitz, A. (2020). Building Public and Political Will for Climate Change Action. Yale School of the Environment. https://environment.yale.edu/news/article/building-public-and-political-will-for-climate-change-action

    ‌MSNBC. (2017, June 2). Donald Trump Believes Climate Change Is A Hoax | All In | MSNBC. YouTube. https://youtu.be/yqgMECkW3Ak?si=ekyAX0Ez2dIfFe0v

    ‌PBS NewsHour. (2024, June 3). WATCH: Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene tells Dr. Fauci, “You’re not doctor” during COVID hearing. YouTube. https://youtu.be/vIwFeG1TAxY?si=o0MVSbGdjNmT3PZc

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