By Ricardo Pereira • Chapter Political Chair
2024 may prove to be one of the most salient elections for the environment. Earth experienced 13 consecutive months of record-breaking global heat from May 2023 through June 2024. The climate crisis grows more severe every year. An increasing number of Americans are experiencing severe heat and other exacerbated weather events, and they are demanding that government act—now.
According to a Pew Research Center survey, 37% of adults (13% of Republicans and 59% of Democrats) said addressing global climate change should be a priority. What’s more encouraging is that 74% of Americans agreed the United States should participate in international efforts to reduce the impacts of climate change.
The survey mentioned above was conducted in 2023 and it is important because it shows the extreme political divide over taking action on climate change. A spring 2024 study by Yale attempted to get beyond politics to understand the general opinions of Americans. It found that 64% of Americans are “somewhat worried” to “very worried” (28%) about climate change, and 66% agree that climate change is affecting weather in the United States.
Despite the daunting reality of climate change, many politicians continue to disregard the urgency of the problem.
The Republican National Convention did not directly address climate change. Additionally, their official 2024 platform doesn’t have any mention of climate change or global warming; however, it does promise to “DRILL, BABY, DRILL” and encourages expanding fossil fuel consumption instead of building sustainable and renewable energy infrastructure. All this, of course, is only the official platform, and it doesn’t even begin to address the threat posed by Project 2025—a right wing version of the Unibomber Manifesto.
The one bright spot is that young conservatives are concerned, and open discussion of climate change was grudgingly allowed to push its way onto the periphery of the Republican National Convention—a first.
Right now, what we need are leaders; politicians who are activists, unafraid to act and do what’s right. That’s how we’ve chosen our endorsements. The Sierra Club urges your vote for these candidates (Table) for US President and Congress—based on their voting and sponsorship records and interview performances.
One of the most important things you can do in this election is vote. Second, urge your friends and family to vote, too. Please—if you want a government that’ll take action on environmental issues—vote! The election will be held on Tuesday, November 5. I would welcome the opportunity to explain to Club members, members of the press, and anyone else the basis for each of our endorsements (or non-endorsements) in New Jersey’s 12 Congressional Districts.
If you would like to do more to help, I would love to suggest how you can contribute your time, energy, and money to help our endorsed candidates get elected. Please contact me at:
Resources
Pew Study: https://shorturl.at/RL4Vy
Yale Study: https://shorturl.at/Nmuen
President and Vice President:
Vice President Kamala Harris (D) and
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (D)
US Senate: Rep. Andy Kim (D)
Congress:
Dist. Candidate
1 Rep. Donald Norcross (D)
5 Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D)
6 Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D)
7 Sue Altman (D) *
8 Rep. Rob Menendez, Jr. (D)
9 Rep. Bill Pascrell (D)
11 Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D)
12 Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D)
* District 7 may be extremely competitive, so be sure to vote.