If you love state parks and democracy, vote “yes” on Ohio Issue 1.
Ohio endured 36 days of 90-plus-degree weather this summer, a third of the summer season. Climate scientists acknowledge we’ve crossed the threshold of 1.5 degrees Celsius warming and say it’s urgent we halve our greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.
We must phase out coal, gas, oil and liquified natural gas as energy sources quickly while simultaneously ramping up clean, renewable energy at an accelerated pace.
Scientists and environmental advocates like us are distressed because we understand the science. Climate change deniers and the fossil fuels industry focus on politics and profits, preventing real progress.
If Ohio voters continue to elect climate change deniers and fossil fuel supporters as lawmakers, we’re on track for not just more suffering faster, but for suffering in a corrupt and autocratic state.
Look to House Bill 6, the $1.3 billion nuclear energy bailout scandal, for a throughline of energy-related corruption in Ohio. Ohio’s former Republican Speaker of the House was sentenced to prison for 20 years last year and two other men indicted in the scheme committed suicide. Gov. Mike DeWine texted FirstEnergy for dollars during his 2018 gubernatorial campaign.