(C) Daily Kos This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered. . . . . . . . . . . In an Election of Coconuts and Couches, Make Climate Your Vote [1] ['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.'] Date: 2024-09-25 As we barrel toward November, the yapping surrounding the Republicans can feel like a circus of distractions: From cats and dogs being eaten in Springfield to JD Vance romantically courting his couch. But while Republicans are out there successfully defining themselves as "weird", we're fast approaching an irreversible future on the climate crisis. We cannot let their weird circus stop us from meaningful climate action. It doesn't get much more grave than this. And scientists have made it abundantly clear: the time to avert catastrophic climate change is running out. Wildfires are rampaging through communities, hurricanes are growing in intensity, and once-in-a-century floods now come once a year. For Trump, it is a reality still treated as a "hoax", and if anything, an afterthought to his own relentless pursuit of power. But if you get the attentive Democratic candidates asking, the message goes thus: the climate crisis is not just a political issue; it is the greatest threat humanity has ever faced. Climate Champions Democrats have made up ground that Republicans are unwilling to make up in confronting the crisis head-on. Instead, Democrats have taken the lead in doing battle with a problem like climate change. They advocate for renewable energy, clean jobs, and transition from fossil fuels. They are the ones in international climate summits like COP, representing America in the fight for a sustainable future. But as dark as those Trump years were, characterized by his administration withdrawing from the Paris Agreement and outright disregard for environmental protection, there is hope. It's in identifying and supporting Democratic candidates who really make climate action their mission. The Climate Crisis: A Threat Like No Other One can readily understand why the climate outranks any other issue. No other problem speaks to the very foundation of life on Earth. Yes, social, economic, and health questions are vital; all of them, however, will be compounded by a broken climate. The rise in sea levels will displace millions, ravage economies, and render livelihoods uncouth. Extreme weather will wipe out food supplies and flood healthcare systems with an impossible load. Should that happen, no other thing in our political priority list matters when there is no livable planet. Climate Action and Economic Growth: Not a Tradeoff One of the most stubborn myths about climate action is the notion that it will hurt the economy. Republicans, led by Trump and cohorts, have been peddling this narrative for years: do something about the climate and you give up jobs, you give up economic growth. Democratic leaders know better; they understand that a green economy is not an alternative, it is a necessity. Take California, for example: It has led the nation in renewable energy for many years, even as it invested heavily in solar and wind power, creating thousands of new jobs. Hawaii and Colorado joined carbon farming for soil health, reduced emissions, and income improvement for farmers. The evidence is crystal clear: Moving to clean energy and sustainable practices does not hurt growth—it leads it. A Movement for Green New Deals Across America As ambitious as the climate goals of the national Democratic platform are, there is also significant momentum at the state level. Candidates across the United States are pushing for statewide Green New Deals-bold, more localized versions of the national plan that focus on making their states models of sustainability. Look at Florida, for example, where candidates are now jostling for a Florida Green New Deal with which to take on the state's peculiar set of challenges on climate change: sea-level rise, reliance on agriculture, and tourism. The proposal included huge investments in installing the infrastructure for renewable energy, moving the economy of the state off fossil fuels, and protecting those communities that line its vulnerable coasts. This would create thousands and thousands of green jobs in solar energies, energy efficiency, and climate-resilient infrastructure, while preparing Florida to weather the coming climate impacts. The choice couldn't be clearer: the climate crisis is here, and candidates serious about taking it on deserve a vote. While others debate over distractions, let’s focus on the future. Let’s make climate our vote. If you want to support our efforts to help elect climate candidates, take a look and consider donating. https://secure.actblue.com/donate/climate-fund-candidates-1 [END] --- [1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2024/9/25/2272789/-In-an-Election-of-Coconuts-and-Couches-Make-Climate-Your-Vote?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=more_community&pm_medium=web Published and (C) by Daily Kos Content appears here under this condition or license: Site content may be used for any purpose without permission unless otherwise specified. via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds: gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/dailykos/