The elephant in the room
Climate change deniers comprise 52 percent of House Republicans, 60 percent of Senate Republicans and, consequently, more than twenty-five percent of the total number of elected officials in Congress. The unsustainable epidemic of Republican-fuelled ignorance propaganda is the direct result of fossil fuel money going into the pockets of corrupt Republicans in Congress.
Republicans intend that the statistics get worse not better. Republican candidates for Congress and the US Senate are becoming radicalised, hence more climate science ignorance could be coming our way. This is why the 2022 midterm election is so deadly dangerous and vitally important to us. Everyone must vote and bring someone they know with them to vote. The future of the planet is in our hands right now at this very moment.
The good news is on Tuesday 16 August, President Biden signed a bill into law that he described as “the most significant legislation in history to tackle the climate crisis.” The Inflation Reduction Act contains $437 billion of spending, $369 billion of which will go towards emissions-cutting measures such as tax breaks for low-carbon energy and electric vehicles. It is the largest amount any nation has ever committed to curtailing the climate crisis. Make no mistake, Joe Biden gets things done. (What’s more, it’s a measure of the largesse and noble spirit of the man that he handed the pen with which he signed the bill to a stupefied Joe Manchin. Joe Biden is the real thing. Republicans who want to fake what a great statesman looks like take note of how they behave.)
It is up to us to act against climate change. According to climate scientist Professor Katharine Hayhoe, the best thing we can do is not panic but get activated. Hayhoe points out that part of the problem is a lot of people are frightened into inaction. Each individual therefore needs to realise that they can make a difference. If every person takes positive steps in their lives to reduce their carbon footprint then we have a very good chance of beating this thing. Do not let discouragement defeat you. There is hope, and you and I are the best purveyors of that hope.
What can you do? Recycle. Drive your car less and take public transportation or a bike when possible. If you can afford it, get solar panels for your house and buy an electric car. Educate yourselves about climate science so you can more effectively speak out against climate ignorance. Eat fewer animal products. For the truly intrepid among you, become vegetarian or vegan.
And not to be forgotten, vote Democratic. Democrats have shown time and time again they care about the American people, Republicans care only about millionaires and billionaires. Democrats truly care about the planet, Republicans don’t. And, as ever, ladies and gentlemen, brothers and sisters, comrades and friends, stay safe.
Robert Harrington is an American expat living in Britain. He is a portrait painter.