One of the first life lessons I was taught was to not judge a book by its cover. Too often we assume things about others that are completely untrue. If you’ve ever been on the receiving end of this, you know how frustrating it can be. For me, that is how I feel as young, female, conservative voter and I know for fact, others feel this way too.
Conservatives Foundation
Having a conservative foundation does not mean that I agree with my political party on every issue. In fact, one area that I find myself feeling isolated is my stance on the environment. As an avid hiker and nature lover, I am passionate about environmental stewardship. My husband and I have taught our son the importance of taking care of our planet. Whether it be recycling, picking up trash that others left behind or making choices every day that lead to a more sustainable lifestyle, we strive to lead by example for the next generation. Many of my conservative friends do the same things and it left me wondering: Am I really the minority in the Republican party?
According to a Pew Research Center Survey, there is a great divide between Millennial and Gen Z Republicans compared to their older party members on issues related to the environment.
“About a third (34%) of Millennial and Gen Z Republicans (including those who lean to the Republican Party) say human activity contributes to climate change a great deal, more than double the share of Republicans in the Baby Boomer or older generations who say the same (14%).”
Has it always been this way?
History reveals that conservatives have prioritized environmental sustainability for over 150 years. Abraham Lincoln signed a law setting aside the Mariposa Grove and Yosemite Valley as protected lands in 1864. Teddy Roosevelt, the father of our National Park system and founder of the United States Forest Service has his legacy deep rooted in land conservation. Ronald Reagan, and George H.W. Bush both made huge contributions to land protection. George W. Bush designated 139,000 square miles of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands as a Marine National Monument, bringing praise from both sides of the aisle.
Donald Trump signed the Save Our Seas Act in 2018 that aims to reduce debris through research, prevention and reduction. It was hailed as a point of unity among Republicans and Democrats. To combat the spread of wildfires like those in California, he signed several bills to support preventive measures that would speed up the process to allow foresters to remove dead trees.
On the other hand, Trump’s comments that he would reduce the EPA to “little bits” has left many unsettled. Christine Todd Whitman, EPA administrator under George W. Bush, told the House Energy and Commerce oversight subcommittee that she was “deeply concerned that five decades of environmental progress are at risk because of the attitudes and approach of this administration.”
Environmental Divide
How have we gotten to a point where issues on the environment divide us vs. bring us together? Over the past two decades, conservatives have created a perception that they lack concern for environmental sustainability and conservation. Not addressing the issues or contributing to their own policy solution, allows them to be seen as anti-environment. My own experiences and studies would tell you that is not true, but it’s hard to shake a tarnished reputation.
Across our country there are groups trying to change that. Benjamin Backer, president of the American Conservation Coalition, and Todd Tanner, president of Conservation Hawks, are just two examples of a conservative movement to combat climate change. They are a part of the growing alliance of conservatives that want to reclaim climate change as a nonpartisan issue. These grassroots efforts combined with the RepublicanEn coalition, who dub themselves the “EcoRight” are pushing for environmental action. I guess I’m not alone after all.
In such a divisive political scene, I’m optimistic that shared concerns can bring us together. Before assuming the political views of the opposing party, we should be asking questions, listening and contributing to a constructive dialogue. We owe it to ourselves and future generations.
