America is divided on several issues heading into the presidential election, and climate change is one of the most polarizing. As a lifelong conservative, businessman and person of faith, I have a unique point of view to share on this subject.
There is nothing about conservative values that should cause us to brush off climate change as a liberal concept.
We need to shift our economy from one based on fossil fuels to one based on clean energy by 2030. Climate scientists agree we are fast approaching the point of no return when global average temperatures will continue rising every year.
Droughts and wildfires as well as storms and hurricanes will continue increasing in frequency and severity unless we stop emitting billions of tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere every year.
The good news is many of the largest and most successful companies in the world like Apple, Google, Facebook and Walmart are equally committed to becoming part of the solution. And there are simple things that we as a country and as ordinary citizens can do to become part of the solution, too.
Steps we can take include rejoining the Paris climate treaty. This would put the U.S. back in its rightful leadership role with the almost 200 nations still committed to this treaty for the purpose of mitigating the effects of climate change.
We can put a price on carbon. This would level the playing field between the fossil fuel and clean energy industries because polluters would finally have to pay for the damage they are causing to not only our environment, but our economy, security, and health.
Consumers can play their part by subscribing to the green energy option. This will require utilities to purchase clean energy from a solar or wind farm for you. Buying an electric vehicle is a way to lower energy costs, and less maintenance.
Embracing a clean energy economy is completely aligned with conservative values and principles. The U.S. is uniquely capable with its penchant for innovation and free markets to unleash new technologies and scale them to solve the climate crisis.
But if we let the fossil fuel industry continue brainwashing our politicians, we will either risk the gravest consequences of climate change or let China win the clean energy revolution.
Steve Melink (www.melinkcorp.com), author of “Fusion Capitalism: A Clean Energy Vision For Conservatives,” is a lifelong conservative. He is founder/CEO of Melink Corporation, a Cincinnati, Ohio-based company that specializes in clean energy solutions for the commercial building industry. He wrote this for InsideSources.com.
