Frist and Backer: Fighting climate change should hit home for Tennesseans | Opinion
Here in the Volunteer State, there’s a new opportunity to reignite our love for our rich natural environment.
For Tennesseans, our state’s natural wonders and resources are intricately tied with our culture, our homes, and our way of life, and each of us can, and should, play a role in making sure they are not degraded.
It is time we stepped up, from the Smoky Mountains to the Mississippi River, to protect our state’s natural beauty and resources.
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A changing climate puts all of us at risk
In Tennessee, the words “climate change” can set off polarizing reactions. To some, it is a rallying cry to save the planet; to others, the phrase is excessive alarmism and a reason to totally tune out of the conversation.
Semantics aside, the climate is changing. Indeed, this change is impacting our daily lives and introduces the potential for irreversible natural resource degradation and environmental destruction.
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Our Volunteer State is naturally blessed with fertile farmland, majestic mountains, extensive freshwater systems, and the most visited national park in America.
Moreover, Tennessee is a state of farmers, sportsmen, and outdoor enthusiasts – folks who enjoy and steward the land and water. A changing climate puts all of this at risk. Fortunately, though, our state has a strong, deeply-rooted conservation ethos running through it.
Conservatives have a history of protecting our natural resources
Tennessee’s conservative leadership has been key in the passing of many of our country’s environmental policies.
Former Tennessee Sen. and Senate Majority Leader Howard Baker, helped steward the landmark Clean Air Act in 1970, and, 50 years later, another senator from Tennessee, Sen. Lamar Alexander, was pivotal in passing the Great American Outdoors Act, which funded our national parks and federal lands. It’s time we built on their legacy.
In Washington, D.C., we’ve seen a remarkable shift toward conservative climate solutions. From the formation of the Conservative Climate Caucus to the energy, climate, and conservation task force in the House of Representatives, it’s no longer a surprise to hear that Republicans are aggressively working on environmental issues.
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It is our hope to bring this momentum and new environmental engagement to Tennessee. We need fresh conversations across the entire state on the changing climate and the impact it’s having on our lives as Tennesseans. Our political affiliations should not deter us from seeking and preserving clean water, clean air, and plentiful food resources.
Young people will help lead our nation to better solutions
As two conservatives – one a lung surgeon and former U.S. Senate Majority Leader, and the other a lifelong Republican activist who founded a conservative environmental organization – we are both too aware that our movement has not been as engaged in this fight as we should have been.
Instead of presenting alternative solutions, conservatives have far too often been singularly focused on pushing back against top-down progressive plans and climate alarmism. That is inadequate.
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As a state, we have much to offer, and we need to lead the way toward common-sense, science-based, actionable solutions for the environmental challenges Tennessee faces.
The 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties in Glasgow put climate change on the international agenda. While climate change is a global issue, it is also a community challenge and should be addressed as such. We each have a role to play. Our state has a role to play.
That’s why we’re teaming up with the purpose of bringing this message to young Tennesseans at college campuses all over the state.
Young people, after all, are the thought leaders and doers of the future. We have launched a statewide, youth-oriented initiative called Volunteer Venture to give young people the opportunity to get out in their communities doing conservation work and advocating for solutions that enrich Tennessee’s environment, health, and economy.
Instead of trying to score political points on the issue, our goal is to energize and engage our Tennessee communities to take pride in preserving the beauty and natural resources of the Volunteer State, all while keeping Tennessee values in mind. We encourage you to learn more and join us in our Volunteer Venture initiative.
Sen. Bill Frist is a heart and lung transplant surgeon, former U.S. Senate Majority Leader, and global board vice chair of The Nature Conservancy. Benji Backer is the president and founder of the American Conservation Coalition (ACC).
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Climate change: Protecting our environment hits home for Tennesseans
