On September 2nd, founder and CEO of MAP, Steven Olikara, joined former Massachusetts State Representative and Millennial climate activist Solomon Goldstein-Rose to discuss Solomon’s new book The 100% Solution, the future of climate change legislation, and youth in politics. Solid State Books, a bookstore in Washington, DC, hosted the virtual discussion. The discussion began with Steven and Solomon asking one another questions about their thoughts on the future of climate legislation, the impact of November’s election, and how young lawmakers are leading the charge on addressing climate change.
The discussion centered on the difficulty of addressing and framing a multi-generational issue such as climate change in a political system that has a consistent, two-year election cycle. The importance of messaging and framing on the issue of climate change will become even more important as the impact of climate change becomes more apparent and impactful on ordinary citizens.
Solomon’s book emphasizes the importance of youth lawmakers and voters pushing the issue of climate change to the forefront of the political discourse in the United States. Solomon’s framing of the issue underscored the urgency of addressing climate change due to the transformational and disruptive impact of climate change on the next generation’s future.
Steven underscored Millennial and Generation Z’s commitment to service and activism while acknowledging that younger generations are disillusioned with the federal government and are less likely to see a career in public service as a worthwhile use of their time. Solomon described his own experience serving as a State Representative in Massachusetts and his motivation for running for elected office. Solomon discovered that there is not a process in Massachusetts that allows for significant issues to be put on the agenda, such as climate change. Solomon decided to focus his full attention on the issue of climate change and to pursue addressing the issue of climate change outside of holding elected office. Solomon aimed to write a book that is helpful to activists on the steps needed to reach negative emissions by the year 2050.
Likewise, Steven’s inspiration for founding the Millennial Action Project is due to major issues, such as climate change, failing to be addressed due to party polarization, and the demonizing of the opposing party. Steven pointed out that electing members of your own party while failing to build a broad, bipartisan coalition, reduces the country’s ability to address a major long term issue like climate change. Steven reiterated the political paradigm shift, among elected officials, that needs to occur in order to meaningfully address the issue of climate change.
The discussion concluded with Solomon and Steven answering questions submitted from the online audience. One question asked about potential areas, in the short term, of bringing Republicans and Democrats together to pass tangible climate change legislation. Steven mentioned the investment, development, and deployment of clean energy technologies as an issue that already has bipartisan support at the federal level. Steven and Solomon left the audience with a greater understanding of the future of climate change legislation and the unique role that young Americans have in demanding action on the issue of climate change.