Partisanship hinders climate action

Is there time for climate policies to be political?

The evidence is there–melting glaciers, rising sea levels, intensifying extreme weather. Climate change is accelerating, but instead of taking action, we have attached party identities to the issues and are now facing the consequences of political polarization.

Party issues create swings between administrations–these frequent reversals are what make our system of government unique. But unlike some domestic policies where this “swing” can be healthy, we cannot treat climate action as a partisan issue when there are global consequences.

I graduated from high school this spring, and while I just began studying political science, I am no expert yet. Already in my lifetime, I have noticed environmental changes in Iowa: frequent flooding, record temperatures, and extreme storms. That’s why I joined Citizens’ Climate Lobby (CCL), a volunteer organization seeking bipartisan climate solutions through grassroots advocacy.

CCL’s neutral approach bridges many perceptions and concerns about climate policies, and one opportunity to exercise this is through lobbying. Thanks to fundraising led by Northeast Iowa’s CCL Chapter Leader Leslie Sand and a generous grant from the Northeast Iowa Peace and Justice Center, I have had the opportunity twice now to lobby Iowa’s members of Congress for bipartisan climate action.

During meetings with Reps. Ashley Hinson and Randy Feenstra and Sen. Chuck Grassley, our focus was on the role of clean energy and the global “clean energy race.” But policy compromise still felt out of reach because of a major national barrier: political parties.

Political polarization has national leaders trapped in rigid agendas. One reason for this could be because political identities have become a defining factor in political decisions and voting patterns through political polarization, both at an individual and party level, which encourage party-line votes. But another reason could be political pressure from party leaders or administrations to vote and act certain ways. This is a big problem, especially for climate policies.

Climate policies are urgent, but as work continues to find bipartisan solutions, our leaders seem to be drifting farther apart. Climate change does not care how you vote. It is our responsibility to remind our leaders to work together and prioritize bipartisan climate action.

Despite divisiveness within our current political environment, I remain optimistic. My conversations locally and in D.C. have changed how I approach climate change, and I believe that by working together, we can protect our future.

Natalie Goodner is a recent Decorah High School graduate (Spring 2025) and traveled to Washington, D.C. this summer with her local Citizens' Climate Lobby chapter.