Sunday, Feb. 4, 2024 | 2 a.m.
Donald Trump emerged victorious in New Hampshire’s GOP primary, and although his margin was significant, Nikki Haley won among crucial constituencies — moderates, college graduates and self-identified independents. As the former South Carolina governor and U.N. ambassador continues her campaign, her environmental agenda remains a pillar of her candidacy and appeal to young voters.
Republican hopefuls should take notes.
Conservatism has entrenched ties to the environmentalist movement, from conservation and ecological protection to passionate outdoorsmanship.
Republicans have historically pioneered efforts to protect America’s ecological promises. President Ronald Reagan signed the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act in 1986, addressing hazardous waste cleanup. Other Republican presidents, such as Teddy Roosevelt, George H.W. Bush and Richard Nixon, were also instrumental in implementing conservationist policies.
The Republican Party’s more recent reputation on climate, however, is complicated.
Despite conservatism’s longstanding ties to the environmentalist movement, young voters substantially disapprove of congressional Republicans’ skepticism regarding the scientific consensus on human-induced climate change. Other candidates have outright denied its existence. These stances in the Republican Party have snubbed previous generations of conservative environmentalists and are repugnant to prospective voters.
Based on her talks in New Hampshire, Haley’s innovative stance on climate change could reestablish the traditional conservative positions on the environment and bring younger voters back to the Republican Party.
During the height of the New Hampshire campaign, five young climate protesters were kicked out of Haley’s rally in Nashua after interrupting. Despite the disarray, Haley continually emphasized the importance of clean air, water and a world for future generations. She called out foreign nations for being polluters and demanded they cut emissions to address climate issues.
The Republican Party should incorporate Haley’s environmental proposals and rhetoric, including expanding nuclear energy, carbon capture technology, and affirming the existence of climate change, to attract prospective young voters.
Environment-related issues have been a significant focus, with climate change a prominent voting issue in the last presidential election. In 2020, 1 in 3 young people identified climate change as one of their top three presidential topics.
Trump voters were significantly more concerned about climate change and green energy investment among their youth than older voters. Young voters carried Joe Biden to victory in 2020 and may again if the Republican nominee doesn’t offer alternative proposals.
Polling suggests that 64% of young voters identify climate change as a significant threat, and nearly three-quarters believe it affects their local community and towns. In North Dakota, for example, a recent poll indicates that young conservatives are prioritizing the environment: 41% of Generation Z and Millennial Republicans state climate change as human-caused and a topic of importance. Younger conservative voters are becoming less content with elected leaders’ positions and prefer non-fossil energy sources. Republicans risk losing an entire generation of voters if they are unable to relay their environmental approach, as Haley has done.
During the first debate of the Republican primary cycle in Milwaukee, Haley garnered national attention for acknowledging and advocating conservative environmentalism. “First of all … is climate change real? Yes, it is,” Haley said. “If you want to go and really change the environment, then we need to start telling China and India that they have to lower their emissions.”
She criticized President Biden’s climate policies, such as electric vehicle subsidies and enabling foreign nations to forgo their emission standards.
The American Conservation Coalition, the nation’s most prominent conservative environmental organization, developed a 2024 presidential matrix to show the American people where Republican presidential contenders stand on climate and energy issues. The matrix rates candidates based on five criteria: recognition of climate change, conviction in emission reduction, support for nuclear energy, permitting reform, and clean energy innovation. Haley led the pack.
In the Iowa caucus, Haley’s top age demographic was those under 30. She won a whopping 63% of Iowa voters who self-identified as moderate, most of whom acknowledge the existence of climate change. Whether she wins the nomination or not, Haley’s nuanced approach to social issues, including environmental concerns, has attracted Millennials, moderates and first-time voters — all essential demographics for a national coalition.
It’s time for conservatives, many of whom champion responsible environmental practices, to act on the perils of pollution and ecological distress. Haley’s limited-government approach to safeguarding America’s great outdoors is a necessary beginning to draw young environmentalists and conservationists to the Republican Party.
Brett Patrick is a Young Voices contributor and campus ambassador for the American Conservation Coalition. He wrote this article for InsideSources.com.
