Stop politicizing climate change

Please, regardless of your political party, stop working tirelessly to turn climate change into a culture war. Call it what it is: a global threat that demands urgent attention.

Last month, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill that removes most references to climate change from state law, bans offshore wind turbines in state waters and weakens regulations on natural gas pipelines. The law went into effect July 1, ironically during this year’s hurricane season, which is expected to be one of the busiest on record. The National Hurricane Center has made it clear that for Florida, it’s not a question of if a hurricane will hit, but when.

With hurricane season highly anticipated, it is astonishing to see Florida lawmakers turn climate change into a political issue and downplay the seriousness of global warming. DeSantis should have used his power to have this short-sighted and irresponsible provision removed from the bill. By censoring discussions of climate change, Florida lawmakers are not only failing to prepare for the inevitable, they are actively making the problem worse.

The rush to turn climate change into a culture war underscores a growing desire to ignore scientific consensus and evidence in favor of promoting ideological divisions. This shift has profound consequences, putting communities at risk. By prioritizing short-term political gains over long-term sustainability and resilience, political leaders who are afraid to utter the word “climate change” are failing in their duty to protect the interests of their constituents and future generations.

The impacts of climate change are not limited to Florida or any one state. They are felt globally, across political affiliations and cultural differences. Rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and ecosystem disruptions pose threats to human health, economic stability, and national security. Ignoring these realities in favor of political posturing only compounds the severity of the crisis we face.

We must reject the politicization of climate change and prioritize evidence-based solutions, grounded in scientific research and international cooperation. The stakes are too high to allow partisan bickering to stand in the way of meaningful action. We must hold our leaders accountable for their decisions and demand policies that address the root causes of climate change while promoting equitable and sustainable solutions for all.

Climate change demands bold and decisive action. It is time for leaders to set aside partisan differences and work together to protect our planet for future generations. Ignoring the scientific consensus on climate change not only hinders our ability to mitigate its impacts, it also puts lives and livelihoods at risk.

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Mary Anna Mancuso is a political strategist and spokesperson for RepublicEn.orga growing group of conservatives who care about climate change. This opinion piece was originally published by The Invading Sea website (theinvadingsea.com), which publishes news and commentary on climate change and other environmental issues affecting Florida.