from the paris agreement, in which most developed nations are failing to meet their 2030 emission reduction targets, to the many pledges made at cop26, world leaders have proven themselves excellent at making grand promises only to break them. luckily, we don’t have to accept this approach. the change to a better, more inclusive, more humble dialogue on climate change is not only necessary, but possible. 

as a 17-year-old student accompanying the american conservation coalition at cop26 in glasgow, i had the unique experience of being the least knowledgeable person in the room at almost all times. i got to meet brilliant individuals while seeing firsthand the relationship between policymakers, experts, and constituents. my involvement in acc has given me insight into the often polarizing nature of climate politics and i’ve been encouraged to promote action that doesn’t exclude realistic ideas. while i went to glasgow to represent young conservatives interested in combating climate change, i also learned that this issue requires a new, collective shift in approach from people on all sides and in all sectors.

though historically environmentalism has not always been a partisan issue, the left has typically been most present in the conversation on climate change over the past several decades in the united states. unfortunately, from what i have observed, the approach has generally utilized apocalyptic language, emotions like fear, and grandiose promises, as seen in proposals like the green new deal. while these radical proposals haven’t gone far legislatively, they have brought attention to the issue, especially when it comes to young people. the fridays for future march, attended by greta thunberg, during cop26 perfectly exemplified this, as many young people showed up to express their frustrations, yet marchers offered very little in terms of realistic, achievable solutions. the organization produced a petition, which achieves the necessary task of asking politicians to acknowledge the urgent nature of climate change and the fact that there are solutions, but gives only vague references to what those solutions could look like and no consideration of how they could actually be implemented. 

in recent years, many right leaning politicians and individuals, including myself at one point, have shown hesitancy when it comes to engaging on the issue of climate change for various reasons. fortunately, acc and the creation of the conservative climate caucus show the right starting to again play a role in climate solutions. in typical conservative fashion, the solutions aren’t always as emotionally appealing to young people, but they present market-based solutions which benefit both the environment and the economy. for example, the growing climate solutions act aims to aid farmers and ranchers who may want to participate in voluntary environmental credit markets in order to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. a history of climate change denial also causes justifiable mistrust among some young voters. while realistic solutions and technological innovations are crucial to a thriving global market and planet, from what i’ve observed at cop26 and other events, conservatives lack a public passion for resolving environmental issues, which would likely increase their credibility. 

if both sides are unwilling to change counterproductive tactics, there is no reason to expect change. fortunately, the first-ever global conservative climate summit (gccs) and cop26 marked small but significant changes to our collective approach. while the gccs provided conservatives a space in a conversation which has typically occurred without them, much of the discussion centered efforts toward bipartisanship and highlighted the necessity for inclusivity, regardless of which political party holds more influence over an issue. 

after listening to a variety of speakers, ranging from theresa may, former uk prime minister and leader of the conservative party, to van jones, left-leaning news and political commentator, author, and lawyer, i realized that i was wrong. before cop26, i expected, as i think many young people do, to see the areas in which different parties and ideologies contradict each other on the issue of climate. however, i realized that in some ways the left’s shortcomings are the right’s strengths, and the right’s shortcomings are the strengths of the left. i found that i was the most inspired and informed after listening to panels which included members from both sides. 

similarly, the typical relationship between experts and politicians was challenged during a panel discussion in which representative werani chilenga of malawi spoke on the challenges his country faced in this fight. after expressing an earnest level of concern about impediments to climate policy in malawi, he posed a question to the listeners and asked them for guidance, knowing the audience consisted of many economists and environmental experts. having been an observer of american politics, it was wildly refreshing to see a politician humble enough actually to ask the experts.

these experiences illustrate the need for changes in the dynamic between legislators and environmental scientists and politicians of differing political parties. young people want to be passionately engaged on the subject of climate change. still, we want to know that proposed solutions are realistic and that the commitments agreed upon by our representatives aren’t just performative stunts. if this issue is to be taken seriously, it requires a sincere focus on real, data-driven action. rather than seeking approval or popularity by making false promises, politicians and leaders must seek guidance from climate experts and innovators and let the youth see their genuine efforts. we don’t want to be told everything is ok to salvage our feelings; we want to know real action is being taken and how to participate in that action.

brooklyn brown is the president of the salt lake city branch of the american conservation coalition and a student at clearfield high school. 

luke strominger writes:

as a floridian and beachside resident, i value the importance of the environment in our everyday lives. without a sustainable environment, our economy will depreciate. each year millions of tourists travel to visit our pristine beaches, resulting in economic prosperity across the state. issues like sea-level rise and severe weather threaten the economic success brought by them. finding innovative market-based approaches and utilizing natural solutions to their greatest potential is key to solving these issues. for these reasons, i’m excited to visit glasgow and attend cop26 and gccs with the american conservation coalition. 

world leaders gather at cop26 to collaborate tackling climate change on a global scale. time and again these international discussions have inspired grand quotes and foreboding predictions over fruitful action. therefore, it’s incredibly important for the conservative point of view to be not only present but heard. conservatives seek pragmatic and commonsense solutions that can be acted upon now without the strain of bureaucracy. one of the leading conservative voices at cop26 is rep. john curtis, founder of the conservative climate caucus. he will be leading a delegation there, showing that both ideological groups are engaged on the climate. historically, conservatives have led on these issues. one such accomplishment was the enactment of the environmental protection agency under the nixon administration. 

there will be over 100 exhibitors and 200 events at cop26. given this, i plan to learn from and share my experiences with attendees and exhibitors, who are taking action in their communities. every region of the world has its own environmental challenges and natural solutions. it’s important to understand them in order to formulate an effective overall strategy. this is especially true when discussing a global approach to climate change. 

through my experiences in florida, i’ve seen how limited government, free markets and natural solutions have all intertwined to form an effective conservative approach. targeted state funding has helped protect our natural solutions, like the everglades, and increased our resiliency to sea level rise and hurricanes. the free markets have helped mitigate effects, such as mote marine laboratory, which has restored 100,000 corals in florida’s coral reef, an ecosystem that has suffered in part due to climate change. 

having said that, local action is the basis for global cooperation on climate change. actions like cleanups, forums, and events with local officials all play a role. it not only increases one’s knowledge of the issues surrounding their area but also motivates others to continue spreading awareness leading to the multi-tiered approach demonstrated in florida. if this is a focus of discussion at cop26, i believe we can truly 2022年卡塔尔世界杯官网 by having an understanding that tackling climate change should not be a one size fits all approach but a global partnership that takes every region’s challenges and solutions into account.

clay robinson writes:

arizona is ground zero for environmental action. the grand canyon state is growing at an exponential rate, both in population and industry, increasing our need for innovation in the energy sector and new technology for water storage and conservation capabilities. as an activist with the american conservation coalition, i look forward to visiting glasgow to attend cop26 and gccs to engage with on these issues and bring what i learn back to arizona.

as a native californian, i’ve experienced water shortage first-hand and the effects it has on the agriculture industry and residential population. for a majority of my childhood, i lived in a severe drought and learned at a young age to conserve water. when i moved to arizona, i had an understanding that water conservation would be just as important, especially in the desert. as arizona continues to grow, we need to manage our water efficiently and create new technologies that reduce waste.  

then there’s the emerging energy question: can arizona sustain its growth while providing quality, clean, and cost-effective energy supply? this is where cop26 and gccs will prove to be crucial to our future activism and policy advocacy in the state. the opportunity to hear from world leaders and organizations committed to solving the same environmental issues we face in arizona at this summit will be an invaluable experience.  

we have the opportunity to capitalize on the momentum happening in arizona. i’ve already seen how a market-based approach has been successful. arizona farmers are developing technologies that reduce water consumption, arizona’s competitive economy has invited several electric vehicle companies to produce the next solution in transportation, and our universities are working to sequester carbon from the atmosphere using carbon capture technology. innovation is alive and well in the grand canyon state, but there’s still more we can do.

there is not a one-size-fits-all solution to climate change. that’s why we need a market-based, innovative approach that focuses on issues in a local context. the american conservation coalition and its partners in the united kingdom and australia can play a key role at the summit by offering a competing perspective to the progressive narrative — one that works and has been proven to be successful. 

how can the conversation in glasgow help arizona find climate solutions to water and energy? global engagement will lay the foundation for local action in communities across our country, including arizona, because it presents a unique opportunity to learn from leading scientists, activists, and government officials who have taken action on these issues. the experience in glasgow will prove to be invaluable to our work in arizona as we build our strategy to advocate for water security and clean energy.

moving the planet forward will require more than rhetoric—it means taking action. the alarmist attitude will not solve climate change. rather, it will be a combination of common sense solutions and bipartisan conversations that will change the direction of our environment, especially in arizona.

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about the authors:

luke strominger is a 2020 graduate of the university of central florida, and clay robinson is a sophomore at arizona state university. both are activists with the american conservation coalition and based in florida and arizona, respectively.