A response to the climate-denying Senate Bill 1

Column

A climate disaster is brewing in Ohio’s state legislature, and its name is Senate Bill 1.

S.B. 1, marketed as a reform bill for higher education, was born from the ashes of the failed Senate Bill 83 and touches on a staggering array of subjects. From banning diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives to forbidding faculty strikes, S.B. 1 would fundamentally change the educational landscape of Ohio’s universities.

If passed, S.B. 1 would bar universities and faculty from taking sides on any “controversial belief or policy,” including explicitly mentioned beliefs of climate change, DEI programming, abortion stances and foreign policy as a whole.

But one of these things is not like the other.

Let’s address the elephant in the room: climate change is not a controversial belief. It is a proven scientific process that is, in this instance, triggered by humans.

While I’m saddened by Ohio Republican’s blatant disregard for science, educational norms and the environment, I’m not surprised. After all, this is the same party that allowed fracking in Ohio’s state parks. The same politicians sponsoring S.B. 1 are taking money from both the energy and oil and gas industries.

It makes me worried about Miami University. Despite the bevy of shocking and generally distasteful decisions the administration makes, I can trust (for now) that my school is not only taking science seriously, but doing its part to reduce our environmental impact.

If S.B. 1 passes, what will happen to Miami’s goal of carbon neutrality by 2040? Many majors have classes related to sustainability, a lot of which are extremely relevant to real-world jobs. What will happen to these classes? Or even sustainability co-majors?

Our entire futures will be shaped by the effects of climate change, in ways we are only beginning to try to understand and predict. Cutting the education of scientific processes that will directly shape the latter half of this century is clearly dangerous and short-sighted.

I write this not as an alarmist political opinion, but one influenced by science-backed pragmatism.

But if you want a political opinion, here you go: Ohio Republicans fail to understand that, much like gun violence, climate change will not go away through refusing to talk about it and wishful thinking.

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Thankfully, there is hope.

S.B. 1 has not passed in the House yet, meaning it is not law yet. There is still time to call your state representative and tell them to vote “No.” There is still time to write opinion letters and give testimony. There is still time.

But even in the presence of hope, I am not hopeful. The current political climate, especially in Ohio, is not looking good. Instead, I turn to Miami’s administration and current students.

If, or more likely when, S.B. 1 passes, Miami must stay committed to science and climate goals. Rebrand, rename and do whatever is necessary to stay compliant with the law, but don’t give up. We should continue to promote sustainability, and equitable sustainability at that. We should invest in our future, and make it a green one.

We cannot let years of progress and growth be diminished by state senators with fossil fuel ties and an agenda of oppression.

S.B. 1 is an unfortunate wake-up call for all members of higher education. There’s still time to stop it. But if it passes, I urge Miami to remain loyal to the interests of its students and our planet.

greenpt@miamioh.edu