We must move beyond ‘climate hushing’

It's probably not climate change setting daily temperature and rainfall records, or causing far too little rain where it’s really needed. It has nothing to do with wildfires becoming more frequent and more devastating or floods destroying people’s homes and lives. Illinois always had the most tornadoes and air so smoky that some days we can hardly breathe outside, right?

If you're a Democrat, you might talk about the climate too much and you'll lose elections. If you're a Republican you might upset someone by saying “climate change.” If you're neither, it might be easiest to stay quiet. Is this why “climate hushing” is the trend? We’re never going to solve problems by pretending they don’t exist. We need to talk about them.

Most Americans understand that our changing climate is increasingly painful to our health and our wallets. Humans did not evolve to thrive in these conditions and it is showing in disease and mortality rates where pollution, temperatures and rainfall (or lack thereof) are excessive. Property insurance is so expensive in flooding, storm and fire zones that home ownership becomes impossible.

Today it takes too long to build anything, including clean energy to meet rapidly expanding power needs. Delays in infrastructure projects cost time and money, with the business roundtable estimating that streamlined permitting would unlock over $1 trillion in potential investment and accelerate GDP growth on the order of $2 trillion. Processes can be improved without compromising the environment or local involvement, and since most energy projects are for clean energy, permitting reform will help address climate change.

Don’t be afraid to talk about climate change, especially with your members of Congress! With both sides agreeing we have a problem, now is the time for durable permitting reform legislation.

Thomas Rausch

Glen Ellyn