Republicans can be on the front lines of finding free-market solutions to climate change | Opinion
Our climate is changing. This is no longer a debate point, but a scientific fact. Through increases in average temperatures, sea level rise, and glacial melting, we’re already feeling the effects, and they are not partisan. Climate isn’t a liberal issue; it’s a human one.
In Florida, young conservatives, like the College Republicans, have conducted beach clean-ups and other environmentally focused events to demonstrate that the future of the GOP is ready to face climate change.
Benji Backer, for instance, founded the American Conservation Coalition to engage his right-wing peers on the environment. Since its founding in 2017, ACC has helped activists on more than 200 campuses, including several in Florida, find their voices on these issues.
David Saul Acosta is a conservative graduate student at Harvard University, but originally hails from Miami. David is part of the Climate Leaders Program for Professional Students at Harvard where he has advocated for climate-conscious practices and solutions within the Harvard community. He has sought to build collaborative partnerships among students and schools not traditionally intertwined in the fight against climate change.
Luckily, Republicans in and out of Congress have spoken out and acted on the issue of climate change in recent years. In my final years in office, I voted in favor of policies that strengthened anti-pollution measures, such as the establishment of methane pollution safeguards, and sought to work with leaders from both sides of the political aisle to deliver tangible solutions for Americans.
As a proud resident of Miami-Dade County, I’m also acutely aware of the threat sea-level rise poses to South Florida, as well as other ecologically sensitive environments of the Sunshine State. Other Florida Republicans like U.S. Reps. Brian Mast and Matt Gaetz, along with Gov. Ron DeSantis. have proven that climate change can — and should — be an issue that conservatives are vocal about.
As a state economically dependent on the tourism industry, it’s critically important to have lands, beaches and waterways that are clean, healthy and inviting to all. That’s why DeSantis has spearheaded efforts on the state and national levels to secure funds for Everglades restoration and has worked to bolster the state’s ability to purchase lands vulnerable to development interests near or adjacent to ecologically sensitive lands. DeSantis was also the first governor to appoint a climate resilience officer to oversee climate matters in the state.
Private industry in the state has also worked hard to address the effects of climate change. In recent years, the Walt Disney Company has aggressively invested in clean-energy projects at its Florida resort. To meet the challenge, Disney has invested hundreds of millions of dollars to install more than 250,000 solar panels, which have bolstered Florida’s green economy and created countless jobs in green industries. Florida Power & Light — a dominant player in Florida’s energy infrastructure and utility landscape — has pledged to install 30 million solar panels by the year 2030. Their “30 by 30” pledge has positioned Florida to be a world leader in solar energy and has showcased the power of the sun and the potential it has to power our economic future.
It’s not a secret that although we see effects of climate change and there is ample local action, national policy-making has been plagued by hyper-partisanship and extreme rhetoric. We have more than 12 years before catastrophe despite alarmists’ assertions, but that isn’t an excuse for inaction. Republicans would be wise to capitalize on this opportunity to promote common-sense policy. We must stay true to our free-market principles and actively pursue solutions that will reduce our carbon emissions like clean energy, carbon-negative technologies and a whole slate of natural solutions.
Because we Floridians feel the effects of climate change more acutely than residents of other states, Florida has the potential to be a real turning point in this conversation. Florida companies and elected officials are in the perfect position to advocate for actionable, bipartisan solutions like energy innovation, infrastructure development, and coastal restoration projects.
The time is now. Just as happens on the many beautiful Florida beaches each day, the tide is turning. In fact, ACC recently launched The American Climate Contract, a market-based climate-change platform. This proposal provides a framework for collaborative, bipartisan action to protect our planet. Americans, regardless of partisanship, want action on climate change, and Florida Republicans can be on the front lines.
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen served in the U.S House for 30 years as the representative from Florida’s 27th congressional district. She is a member of ACC’s Advisory Board.