Young voters, including Independents, are increasingly defining the environment as a critical issue, putting Republicans at risk of losing their support.

Giancarlo Da Motta, who is 18 years old and from Miami, will be able to vote in his first presidential election. Despite this, the issue of climate change, which is important to him, is not a major topic of discussion for either candidate.

""The state has been experiencing intense hurricanes, floods, and heat waves, resulting in fatalities, according to the speaker," he stated to Planet Chronicle Digital."

Da Motta stated that he is not seeking a candidate from either the Republican or Democratic party, but rather someone who can strike a balance between implementing "solution-based practices" and ensuring economic stability.

"It's not a party by party issue," he said.

A study suggests that the growing concerns of young voters and Independents about the environment have disproportionately benefited the Democratic Party and may have cost Republicans the 2020 presidential election.

According to Chris Barnard, president of the American Conservation Coalition, a conservative environmental nonprofit, if Republicans do not present their views on this topic in a manner that does not make them appear insane to the typical young person or Independent voter, they will lose a voting bloc that they may never be able to regain.

A study found that the Democrats' favor in the 2020 election was likely influenced by a shift in climate change opinion.

A study by the University of Colorado found that strong feelings about the environment were a significant factor in voting behavior in 2020.

According to the report, nearly three quarters of Independents who viewed climate change as "very important" voted for Joe Biden, while more than a quarter of Republicans who felt the same way about the environment also supported Biden.

"The researchers estimated that the Democrats' advantage in climate change opinion was likely large enough in 2020 to change the presidential election outcome in their favor."

In 2023, Gallup reported that Americans who identify as independents make up the largest political voting bloc, with an average of 43% of the population. Barnard is concerned that Republicans may lose more of their own voters as climate change becomes a more pressing issue among young conservatives.

In 2023, a survey by Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions (CRES) Forum found that 81% of GOP voters aged 18 to 44 believe climate change is a severe threat or may worsen in the future, which is 18% higher than the overall GOP voter percentage, according to the survey.

According to Barnard, if Republicans don't discuss climate and environmental matters, they risk losing young voters and facing electoral failure for generations.

Young voters typically don't consider the environment as their top concern. According to a June Economist/YouGov Poll, inflation and health care were the top two issues for Americans aged 18 to 29. Climate change and the environment were tied for third place with the economy and abortion among those surveyed.

People might vote for a candidate on other issues, but their attitude toward environmental issues can "completely turn off" voters.

Numerous Republicans have openly disregarded climate change, with former President Trump frequently referring to it as a "hoax."

Barnard stated that it simply mirrors how one perceives fundamental science and how the younger generation views their future.

The GOP backlash is largely due to misrepresentations of science, extreme predictions that did not come true, and economy-crippling proposals to address climate change, according to his theory.

In 2023, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported record-high global temperatures and greenhouse gas levels, according to a new study. Despite a broad scientific consensus that human activity is causing the Earth's temperature to rise, opinions differ on the severity of the issue and potential solutions.

Ignoring environmental issues altogether isn't a good strategy for Republicans, Barnard advised.

During the nonpartisan Youth VoteFest in Milwaukee at the recent Republican National Convention, Da Motta stated that it is better to have a stance on the climate than not to have one.

The Miami Dade College freshman sought a "practical" solution to environmental issues, recognizing that completely phasing out fossil fuels, a key concern for the left, is "unrealistic due to our reliance on it."

"I believe that many individuals fail to discover a balanced approach because of political agendas, which can lead to a narrow focus and the loss of sight on practical solutions. Personally, I always advocate for a middle ground."

According to Barnard, who spoke to Planet Chronicle Digital, since conservatives have largely disengaged from the conversation, young people are only exposed to Green New Deal-type ideas from the left.

He remarked that if young people are presented with a choice between poor options or no options at all, they are likely to still select the poor option.

The American Conservation Coalition aims to promote policies such as boosting nuclear energy production and streamlining regulations that stifle innovation, in order to take control of the conversation.

Barnard stated that conservatives want to demonstrate to young people that they "do care" about the environment and have "better ideas."

"The message that young people desire to hear is that we should approach the issue in a manner that does not harm the economy, reduce American dependence on China, ease people's lives, and promote innovation, lower energy costs, and ensure a safer and healthier future for generations to come, without causing any hardships."

Kira Mautone and Ramiro Vargas collaborated on both the story and the video.