Millennial Leaders from Across the Political Spectrum Debate What, if Anything, Can be Done About Climate Policy

Originally posted on https://about.bgov.com

With the election of President Donald Trump, the conversation around energy and climate change took a dramatic turn from the Obama administration. While the debate on the human impacts of climate change renews in Washington, among one demographic it’s all but settled. A University of Texas at Austin poll of millennials taken prior to the 2016 election showed that 91 percent of millennials believe climate change is real and occurring. The numbers are on the rise across the political spectrum, with 89 percent of self-identified Democrats and 62 percent of Republicans—up from 45 percent in 2012—agreeing climate change is real.

The only question is what to do about it.

The next generation of climate and energy leaders are tasked with figuring the balance between the economic realities of legacy energy jobs, the rapidly growing alternative energy sector and the pressing demands (and political difficulties) of acting on climate change, regardless of its causes.

To explore this topic in depth, Bloomberg Government recently convened a discussion featuring rising leaders in the energy and climate debate from across the political spectrum. The goal was to find common ground and tackle what, if anything, could be done on energy and climate during the next four years and beyond.

Leaders, students and policy makers turned out for what became a passionate, open forum about how the next generation of climate leaders can effectively craft policy that ensures a strong economy while protecting the planet.

To read the full article and watch the video replay, click here.