Environmental leaders discuss barriers, ways forward during panel on climate policy

Young leaders from both sides of the aisle discussed topics ranging from the impact of climate change on health to ways to engage with politicians during a Thursday environmental policy panel hosted by The Hill.

The online event, “Building Consensus Around Environmental Policy,” was the inaugural installment in a partnership between The Hill and the American Conservation Coalition. The five discussions making up the event featured moderator Julia Manchester, The Hill national political reporter, in conversation with various activists and professionals discussing how to work together and find solutions for environmental issues.

Chris Barnard, president of the American Conservation Coalition, said that despite assumptions, many young Republicans believe in climate change and don’t see their views reflected in the party’s environmental policies.

He said a significant problem in the environmental movement is a language barrier, where older Republicans are put off by terms often used by more progressive activists.

“If you were to say ‘climate crisis,’ like you mentioned earlier, a lot of older Republicans be like, ‘Whoa, I am not comfortable with that term,'” Barnard said. “But if you said, ‘Actually, it’s about protecting your backyard. It’s about giving access to your kids to live in a healthy environment with clean air and clean water,’ that’s something that everyone can get behind.” 

Kristy Drutman, founder of Browngirl Green and co-founder of the Green Jobs Board, said environmental issues can and should be discussed in a way that resonates with people across party lines.

“There’s new opportunities to be able to talk about environmental issues that can reach people across the political spectrum,” Drutman said. “And a lot of that, we’re realizing, comes down to things like air and water pollution, protecting the areas and the communities we care about the most.”

Browngirl Green, The Rockefeller Foundation and The University of Southern California Schwarzenegger Institute for State and Global Policy also sponsored the event, and were part of a roundtable discussion for participants, including former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R).

Conservative social media influencer Isabel Brown said she thought the roundtable and the additional discussions were especially productive, as the world becomes increasingly polarized over environmental issues and words like “climate.”

“In America, sadly, everything has become a political connotation, down to the toothbrush that you used this morning or the underwear that you’re wearing right now as you watch this video,” Brown said. “And I think we get so defensive about defending our definition of that word that it often makes it really difficult for us to let our guards down and just have a productive conversation.”

Brown said she saw Gen Z as breaking some of the party distinctions of the past, and thinks younger generations will be climate conservation leaders. 

Isaias Hernandez, an environmental educator and creator of independent media platform Queer Brown Vegan, agreed, and said young activists will continue to pressure politicians, Democratic or Republican, who are not taking environmental issues seriously. 

“It is in our best interest to recognize that if we are not going to recognize these things as an issue, we will find other candidates that are very suitable, that will be able to tackle the environment,” Hernandez said.

“So let’s actually come together,” Hernandez said. “And I think realistically, that’s how we’re seeing it, that we can save this democracy. It’s just that it needs to be done right and communicated effectively.”

Sierra Quitiquit, a professional skier and climate activist, said climate change impacts everyone’s physical and mental health, and that she hopes everyone gets involved in improving the future.

“Right now is this the decisive decade and the most critical point to act,” Quitiquit said. “We all have a stake in this game if we want to create a better future for ourselves, our economy and our children.”