{"id":391676,"date":"2025-07-30T11:25:46","date_gmt":"2025-07-30T09:25:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=391676"},"modified":"2025-07-30T11:26:05","modified_gmt":"2025-07-30T09:26:05","slug":"reclaiming-environmentalism-from-the-climate-extremists","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=391676","title":{"rendered":"Reclaiming \u2018Environmentalism\u2019 From the Climate Extremists"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"723\" height=\"723\" data-attachment-id=\"391678\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?attachment_id=391678\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0AQOAqzCCpYCpI6XNtng7SFR6DdxH4LIyML878RtRZQjWZqK_oZdfGU0DakI8ExMzFqUYKPuT9tx0F3kSpFZP5b4tJtuTsuvGto_DUSKKdpddci5ArZbvAMyApEdrMCQPs6UfhTH3tDMMoCeBCMojTYvUr94P-1.jpeg?fit=1280%2C1280&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1280,1280\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"0AQOAqzCCpYCpI6XNtng7SFR6DdxH4LIyML878RtRZQjWZqK_oZdfGU0DakI8ExMzFqUYKPuT9tx0F3kSpFZP5b4tJtuTsuvGto_DUSKKdpddci5ArZbvAMyApEdrMCQPs6UfhTH3tDMMoCeBCMojTYvUr94P (1)\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0AQOAqzCCpYCpI6XNtng7SFR6DdxH4LIyML878RtRZQjWZqK_oZdfGU0DakI8ExMzFqUYKPuT9tx0F3kSpFZP5b4tJtuTsuvGto_DUSKKdpddci5ArZbvAMyApEdrMCQPs6UfhTH3tDMMoCeBCMojTYvUr94P-1.jpeg?fit=723%2C723&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0AQOAqzCCpYCpI6XNtng7SFR6DdxH4LIyML878RtRZQjWZqK_oZdfGU0DakI8ExMzFqUYKPuT9tx0F3kSpFZP5b4tJtuTsuvGto_DUSKKdpddci5ArZbvAMyApEdrMCQPs6UfhTH3tDMMoCeBCMojTYvUr94P-1.jpeg?resize=723%2C723&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"An illuminated figure resembling a superhero emerges in a cityscape, surrounded by a crowd holding protest signs that read 'No to Climate,' 'No to Change,' and 'Save the Planet.'\" class=\"wp-image-391678\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0AQOAqzCCpYCpI6XNtng7SFR6DdxH4LIyML878RtRZQjWZqK_oZdfGU0DakI8ExMzFqUYKPuT9tx0F3kSpFZP5b4tJtuTsuvGto_DUSKKdpddci5ArZbvAMyApEdrMCQPs6UfhTH3tDMMoCeBCMojTYvUr94P-1.jpeg?resize=1024%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 1024w, 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https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0AQOAqzCCpYCpI6XNtng7SFR6DdxH4LIyML878RtRZQjWZqK_oZdfGU0DakI8ExMzFqUYKPuT9tx0F3kSpFZP5b4tJtuTsuvGto_DUSKKdpddci5ArZbvAMyApEdrMCQPs6UfhTH3tDMMoCeBCMojTYvUr94P-1.jpeg?resize=400%2C400&amp;ssl=1 400w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0AQOAqzCCpYCpI6XNtng7SFR6DdxH4LIyML878RtRZQjWZqK_oZdfGU0DakI8ExMzFqUYKPuT9tx0F3kSpFZP5b4tJtuTsuvGto_DUSKKdpddci5ArZbvAMyApEdrMCQPs6UfhTH3tDMMoCeBCMojTYvUr94P-1.jpeg?resize=200%2C200&amp;ssl=1 200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0AQOAqzCCpYCpI6XNtng7SFR6DdxH4LIyML878RtRZQjWZqK_oZdfGU0DakI8ExMzFqUYKPuT9tx0F3kSpFZP5b4tJtuTsuvGto_DUSKKdpddci5ArZbvAMyApEdrMCQPs6UfhTH3tDMMoCeBCMojTYvUr94P-1.jpeg?resize=450%2C450&amp;ssl=1 450w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0AQOAqzCCpYCpI6XNtng7SFR6DdxH4LIyML878RtRZQjWZqK_oZdfGU0DakI8ExMzFqUYKPuT9tx0F3kSpFZP5b4tJtuTsuvGto_DUSKKdpddci5ArZbvAMyApEdrMCQPs6UfhTH3tDMMoCeBCMojTYvUr94P-1.jpeg?resize=60%2C60&amp;ssl=1 60w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0AQOAqzCCpYCpI6XNtng7SFR6DdxH4LIyML878RtRZQjWZqK_oZdfGU0DakI8ExMzFqUYKPuT9tx0F3kSpFZP5b4tJtuTsuvGto_DUSKKdpddci5ArZbvAMyApEdrMCQPs6UfhTH3tDMMoCeBCMojTYvUr94P-1.jpeg?resize=550%2C550&amp;ssl=1 550w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0AQOAqzCCpYCpI6XNtng7SFR6DdxH4LIyML878RtRZQjWZqK_oZdfGU0DakI8ExMzFqUYKPuT9tx0F3kSpFZP5b4tJtuTsuvGto_DUSKKdpddci5ArZbvAMyApEdrMCQPs6UfhTH3tDMMoCeBCMojTYvUr94P-1.jpeg?w=1280&amp;ssl=1 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 723px) 100vw, 723px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">From <a href=\"https:\/\/wattsupwiththat.com\/2025\/07\/29\/reclaiming-environmentalism-from-the-climate-extremists\/\">Watts Up With That?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">By&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/wattsupwiththat.com\/authors\/gary_abernathy\/\">Gary Abernathy<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"723\" height=\"723\" data-attachment-id=\"391679\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?attachment_id=391679\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0AQNwDGpMZNhdiZBjlQKZ2CtL_A_e8u3AHf5doL2PWF6-ciayqu43hGuIWOenCBS7x-AzDc29KC58oZa-enUYYNqcIJ0nqHq02s2DnMDztrtgiU65xaC4zvjZnYpSMDTjBNSrg1ZXAIcMYJwFQ1tdZUwWVcUV-1.jpeg?fit=1280%2C1280&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1280,1280\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"0AQNwDGpMZNhdiZBjlQKZ2CtL_A_e8u3AHf5doL2PWF6-ciayqu43hGuIWOenCBS7x-AzDc29KC58oZa-enUYYNqcIJ0nqHq02s2DnMDztrtgiU65xaC4zvjZnYpSMDTjBNSrg1ZXAIcMYJwFQ1tdZUwWVcUV (1)\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0AQNwDGpMZNhdiZBjlQKZ2CtL_A_e8u3AHf5doL2PWF6-ciayqu43hGuIWOenCBS7x-AzDc29KC58oZa-enUYYNqcIJ0nqHq02s2DnMDztrtgiU65xaC4zvjZnYpSMDTjBNSrg1ZXAIcMYJwFQ1tdZUwWVcUV-1.jpeg?fit=723%2C723&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0AQNwDGpMZNhdiZBjlQKZ2CtL_A_e8u3AHf5doL2PWF6-ciayqu43hGuIWOenCBS7x-AzDc29KC58oZa-enUYYNqcIJ0nqHq02s2DnMDztrtgiU65xaC4zvjZnYpSMDTjBNSrg1ZXAIcMYJwFQ1tdZUwWVcUV-1.jpeg?resize=723%2C723&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"An illustration depicting a man in a green suit sitting on the ground with a concerned expression, surrounded by scattered papers, next to a globe with the text 'Climate Scam Collapsed'.\" class=\"wp-image-391679\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0AQNwDGpMZNhdiZBjlQKZ2CtL_A_e8u3AHf5doL2PWF6-ciayqu43hGuIWOenCBS7x-AzDc29KC58oZa-enUYYNqcIJ0nqHq02s2DnMDztrtgiU65xaC4zvjZnYpSMDTjBNSrg1ZXAIcMYJwFQ1tdZUwWVcUV-1.jpeg?resize=1024%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0AQNwDGpMZNhdiZBjlQKZ2CtL_A_e8u3AHf5doL2PWF6-ciayqu43hGuIWOenCBS7x-AzDc29KC58oZa-enUYYNqcIJ0nqHq02s2DnMDztrtgiU65xaC4zvjZnYpSMDTjBNSrg1ZXAIcMYJwFQ1tdZUwWVcUV-1.jpeg?resize=300%2C300&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0AQNwDGpMZNhdiZBjlQKZ2CtL_A_e8u3AHf5doL2PWF6-ciayqu43hGuIWOenCBS7x-AzDc29KC58oZa-enUYYNqcIJ0nqHq02s2DnMDztrtgiU65xaC4zvjZnYpSMDTjBNSrg1ZXAIcMYJwFQ1tdZUwWVcUV-1.jpeg?resize=150%2C150&amp;ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0AQNwDGpMZNhdiZBjlQKZ2CtL_A_e8u3AHf5doL2PWF6-ciayqu43hGuIWOenCBS7x-AzDc29KC58oZa-enUYYNqcIJ0nqHq02s2DnMDztrtgiU65xaC4zvjZnYpSMDTjBNSrg1ZXAIcMYJwFQ1tdZUwWVcUV-1.jpeg?resize=768%2C768&amp;ssl=1 768w, 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https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0AQNwDGpMZNhdiZBjlQKZ2CtL_A_e8u3AHf5doL2PWF6-ciayqu43hGuIWOenCBS7x-AzDc29KC58oZa-enUYYNqcIJ0nqHq02s2DnMDztrtgiU65xaC4zvjZnYpSMDTjBNSrg1ZXAIcMYJwFQ1tdZUwWVcUV-1.jpeg?resize=400%2C400&amp;ssl=1 400w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0AQNwDGpMZNhdiZBjlQKZ2CtL_A_e8u3AHf5doL2PWF6-ciayqu43hGuIWOenCBS7x-AzDc29KC58oZa-enUYYNqcIJ0nqHq02s2DnMDztrtgiU65xaC4zvjZnYpSMDTjBNSrg1ZXAIcMYJwFQ1tdZUwWVcUV-1.jpeg?resize=200%2C200&amp;ssl=1 200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0AQNwDGpMZNhdiZBjlQKZ2CtL_A_e8u3AHf5doL2PWF6-ciayqu43hGuIWOenCBS7x-AzDc29KC58oZa-enUYYNqcIJ0nqHq02s2DnMDztrtgiU65xaC4zvjZnYpSMDTjBNSrg1ZXAIcMYJwFQ1tdZUwWVcUV-1.jpeg?resize=450%2C450&amp;ssl=1 450w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0AQNwDGpMZNhdiZBjlQKZ2CtL_A_e8u3AHf5doL2PWF6-ciayqu43hGuIWOenCBS7x-AzDc29KC58oZa-enUYYNqcIJ0nqHq02s2DnMDztrtgiU65xaC4zvjZnYpSMDTjBNSrg1ZXAIcMYJwFQ1tdZUwWVcUV-1.jpeg?resize=60%2C60&amp;ssl=1 60w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0AQNwDGpMZNhdiZBjlQKZ2CtL_A_e8u3AHf5doL2PWF6-ciayqu43hGuIWOenCBS7x-AzDc29KC58oZa-enUYYNqcIJ0nqHq02s2DnMDztrtgiU65xaC4zvjZnYpSMDTjBNSrg1ZXAIcMYJwFQ1tdZUwWVcUV-1.jpeg?resize=550%2C550&amp;ssl=1 550w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0AQNwDGpMZNhdiZBjlQKZ2CtL_A_e8u3AHf5doL2PWF6-ciayqu43hGuIWOenCBS7x-AzDc29KC58oZa-enUYYNqcIJ0nqHq02s2DnMDztrtgiU65xaC4zvjZnYpSMDTjBNSrg1ZXAIcMYJwFQ1tdZUwWVcUV-1.jpeg?w=1280&amp;ssl=1 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 723px) 100vw, 723px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>This article was originally published at&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/empoweringamerica.org\/reclaiming-environmentalism-from-the-climate-extremists\/\">The Empowerment Alliance<\/a>&nbsp;and is re-published here with permission.&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>Americans are reclaiming \u2018environmentalism\u2019 from the radical left.\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Certain words and phrases take on new meaning as time goes by, often due to the politicization of our language. A clear example of such evolution is in regard to what it means to be an environmentalist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Decades ago, concern for the environment largely centered on keeping the land free of clutter, the water protected from contamination, and the cities unpolluted by soot and smog. One of the major environmentalist movements of the 1960s was fronted by then-First Lady \u201cLady Bird\u201d Johnson, who initiated a campaign to \u201cKeep America Beautiful.\u201d Johnson explained that her passion for beautification was in perfect concert with other important objectives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cGetting on the subject of beautification is like picking up a tangled skein of wool,\u201d&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/theempowermentalliance.cmail19.com\/t\/y-i-qjryhjy-l-y\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">she wrote<\/a>&nbsp;in a 1965 diary entry. \u201cAll the threads are interwoven \u2013 recreation and pollution and mental health, and the crime rate, and rapid transit, and highway beautification, and the war on poverty, and parks \u2013 national, state and local. It is hard to hitch the conversation into one straight line, because everything leads to something else.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The campaign to clean up the national landscape was bolstered by a heavy rotation of public service television ads showing litter along highways, waterways and parks, and imploring people to \u201cKeep America Beautiful.\u201d Most famous in the long-running campaign was an&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/theempowermentalliance.cmail19.com\/t\/y-i-qjryhjy-l-j\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">early 1970s ad<\/a>&nbsp;ending with a closeup of actor Iron Eyes Cody, a teardrop falling from one eye as he surveyed a polluted environment. (Cody&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/theempowermentalliance.cmail19.com\/t\/y-i-qjryhjy-l-t\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">turned out to be an Italian American<\/a>, not a Native American as portrayed, but that\u2019s another story.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But as the \u201cglobal warming\u201d movement came into vogue, the definition of environmentalism began to shift. Leftwing media, politicians and organizations began to define environmentalism almost solely on the basis of adherence to its greenhouse gas theories and its demonization of the fossil fuel industry. In their world, anyone supporting our most reliable and dependable energy sources \u2013 natural gas, fuel oil and coal \u2013 disqualified themselves as environmentalists. In fact, they were accused of being \u201canti-environment.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Too often, the left\u2019s political targets played right into their hands, struggling to defend themselves and sometimes even downplaying or ridiculing the importance of a clean environment. By allowing \u201cenvironmentalism\u201d to be redefined and coopted by the radical left, true environmentalism was lost. Fortunately, a recent action by President Trump will help reverse course.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While the passage and signing of the \u201cOne Big, Beautiful Bill\u201d grabbed most of the attention over the Independence Day weekend, an executive order signed by Trump on July 3 may have an even more lasting impact. The president\u2019s \u201cMake America Beautiful Again\u201d order, \u201cestablish(ed) a council tasked with conserving public lands, protecting&nbsp;wildlife populations&nbsp;and ensuring clean drinking water,\u201d as&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/theempowermentalliance.cmail19.com\/t\/y-i-qjryhjy-l-i\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">the Washington Post<\/a>&nbsp;described it, while adding that the order remained \u201csilent on climate change.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While the Post and other leftwing news outlets cling to the \u201cclimate change\u201d definition of environmentalism, Trump\u2019s executive order is a first step toward reclaiming the term and unifying the country around the concept of a cleaner world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trump\u2019s&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/theempowermentalliance.cmail19.com\/t\/y-i-qjryhjy-l-h\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">order decrees<\/a>&nbsp;that all federal land management agencies will \u201cpromote responsible stewardship of natural resources while driving economic growth,&nbsp;expand access to public lands and waters for recreation, hunting, and fishing, encourage responsible, voluntary conservation efforts, cut bureaucratic delays that hinder effective environmental management, and recover America\u2019s fish and wildlife populations through proactive, voluntary, on-the-ground collaborative conservation efforts.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trump\u2019s order was inspired by the years-long efforts of 27-year-old Benji Backer, a \u201cconservative environmentalist\u201d who leads a group called, \u201cNature is Nonpartisan.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThis issue needs to get out of the culture wars,\u201d Backer told the Post. \u201cPeople just are so divided over President Trump, right? But if he could do one thing that brings people together, and it\u2019s protecting the environment, it would change the course of the issue forever.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">By returning \u201cenvironmentalism\u201d to its original purpose of protecting the air, land and water, the Trump administration will open the doors for those targeted by the left as environmental villains, welcoming everyone \u2013 right, left, middle \u2013 to actively engage in real environmentalism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Those who provide America and the world with our most affordable and reliable energy sources have long cared about preserving the environment, in particular by investing in new technologies that make traditional energy cleaner than ever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For example, advances in horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing technologies used to extract natural gas&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/theempowermentalliance.cmail19.com\/t\/y-i-qjryhjy-l-k\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">have allowed the United States<\/a>&nbsp;to lead all major industrialized countries in carbon reductions.&nbsp;Home heating oil burner emissions&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/theempowermentalliance.cmail19.com\/t\/y-i-qjryhjy-l-u\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">have been reduced<\/a>&nbsp;to near zero levels, while the sulfur content has been reduced from 1% to about 0.5%. And rapidly evolving&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/theempowermentalliance.cmail19.com\/t\/y-i-qjryhjy-l-o\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">coal plant technology<\/a>&nbsp;means that modern pollution controls reduce nitrogen oxides by 83%, sulfur dioxide by 98%, and particulate matter by 99.8%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As Benji Backer says, it\u2019s time to move environmentalism out of the realm of the culture wars. Americans across the political spectrum love the environment and understand the need to protect it. Led by the president\u2019s \u201cMake America Beautiful Again\u201d commission, the day is here when we can once again declare in unison that we are all environmentalists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Gary Abernathy is a longtime newspaper editor, reporter and columnist. He was a contributing columnist for the Washington Post from 2017-2023 and a frequent guest analyst across numerous media platforms. He is a contributing columnist for&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/theempowermentalliance.cmail19.com\/t\/y-i-qjryhjy-l-b\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The Empowerment Alliance<\/a>, which advocates for realistic approaches to energy consumption and environmental conservation. Abernathy\u2019s \u201cTEA Takes\u201d column will be published every Wednesday and delivered to your inbox!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>This article was originally published by RealClearEnergy and made available via RealClearWire.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Americans are reclaiming \u2018environmentalism\u2019 from the radical left. <\/p>\n<p>Certain words and phrases take on new meaning as time goes by, often due to the politicization of our language. A clear example of such evolution is in regard to what it means to be an environmentalist.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":121246920,"featured_media":391678,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","advanced_seo_description":"Explore how Americans are reclaiming environmentalism from radicals, advocating for a unified approach to protect our planet and resources.","jetpack_seo_html_title":"Reclaiming Environmentalism: A Positive Shift in America","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1],"tags":[691818056,691822133,691825754,691836897,691836898,691836899,691818154,691836896,691833487],"class_list":["post-391676","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-climate-change","tag-climate-extremists","tag-environmentalism","tag-first-lady-lady-bird-johnson","tag-keep-america-beautiful","tag-make-america-beautiful-again","tag-net-zero","tag-radical-left","tag-us-president-donald-j-trump","fallback-thumbnail"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0AQOAqzCCpYCpI6XNtng7SFR6DdxH4LIyML878RtRZQjWZqK_oZdfGU0DakI8ExMzFqUYKPuT9tx0F3kSpFZP5b4tJtuTsuvGto_DUSKKdpddci5ArZbvAMyApEdrMCQPs6UfhTH3tDMMoCeBCMojTYvUr94P-1.jpeg?fit=1280%2C1280&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/paxLW1-1DTm","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":450437,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=450437","url_meta":{"origin":391676,"position":0},"title":"America\u2019s Energy Future Is Being Decided in Obscure Utility Commission Races","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"06\/15\/2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Most Americans could not name a single member of their state Public Service or Utility Commission (PSC\/PUC). Radical climate activists are counting on that.","rel":"","context":"In \"AI (artificial intelligence\"","block_context":{"text":"AI (artificial intelligence","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=ai-artificial-intelligence"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/00-Americas-Energy-Future-Is-Being-Decided-in-Obscure-Utility-Commission-Races.jpg?fit=1168%2C784&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/00-Americas-Energy-Future-Is-Being-Decided-in-Obscure-Utility-Commission-Races.jpg?fit=1168%2C784&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/00-Americas-Energy-Future-Is-Being-Decided-in-Obscure-Utility-Commission-Races.jpg?fit=1168%2C784&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/00-Americas-Energy-Future-Is-Being-Decided-in-Obscure-Utility-Commission-Races.jpg?fit=1168%2C784&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/00-Americas-Energy-Future-Is-Being-Decided-in-Obscure-Utility-Commission-Races.jpg?fit=1168%2C784&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":429792,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=429792","url_meta":{"origin":391676,"position":1},"title":"The Radical Left\u2019s Green Scam Is Running Out of Fuel","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"03\/06\/2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Radical climate organizations\u2019 dangerous activism was on display again in February, when a coalition of environmentalist groups sued the federal government over its repeal of an unscientific, politically-motivated 2009 endangerment finding.","rel":"","context":"In \"2009 Endangerment Finding\"","block_context":{"text":"2009 Endangerment Finding","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=2009-endangerment-finding"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0AQOU-aZUGVJqzJWaFocsIFyDMIluUITwBQgmaT8yWXP1OqSoyp8aAb1GpKI02kE2SOUBuRenECaCA9aTLF-A3aHSJw1tddNWpu1QqZdZ2O48Ldgmy1w-kSiFMr0kIfgtZEElTMrH_yZYGQriBOLSdu2xAkAsxQ-1.jpeg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0AQOU-aZUGVJqzJWaFocsIFyDMIluUITwBQgmaT8yWXP1OqSoyp8aAb1GpKI02kE2SOUBuRenECaCA9aTLF-A3aHSJw1tddNWpu1QqZdZ2O48Ldgmy1w-kSiFMr0kIfgtZEElTMrH_yZYGQriBOLSdu2xAkAsxQ-1.jpeg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0AQOU-aZUGVJqzJWaFocsIFyDMIluUITwBQgmaT8yWXP1OqSoyp8aAb1GpKI02kE2SOUBuRenECaCA9aTLF-A3aHSJw1tddNWpu1QqZdZ2O48Ldgmy1w-kSiFMr0kIfgtZEElTMrH_yZYGQriBOLSdu2xAkAsxQ-1.jpeg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0AQOU-aZUGVJqzJWaFocsIFyDMIluUITwBQgmaT8yWXP1OqSoyp8aAb1GpKI02kE2SOUBuRenECaCA9aTLF-A3aHSJw1tddNWpu1QqZdZ2O48Ldgmy1w-kSiFMr0kIfgtZEElTMrH_yZYGQriBOLSdu2xAkAsxQ-1.jpeg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0AQOU-aZUGVJqzJWaFocsIFyDMIluUITwBQgmaT8yWXP1OqSoyp8aAb1GpKI02kE2SOUBuRenECaCA9aTLF-A3aHSJw1tddNWpu1QqZdZ2O48Ldgmy1w-kSiFMr0kIfgtZEElTMrH_yZYGQriBOLSdu2xAkAsxQ-1.jpeg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":411547,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=411547","url_meta":{"origin":391676,"position":2},"title":"A.G.s: Plastics \u201cPact\u201d harms consumers","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"11\/04\/2025","format":false,"excerpt":"For years, environmental activists have pressured the business world to embrace\u00a0the UN\u2019s aggressive climate and energy agenda. They know full well that corporate leaders won\u2019t sign on voluntarily \u2014 doing so would mean skyrocketing costs, suffocating regulations, and peddling products that consumers simply don\u2019t want.","rel":"","context":"In \"aggressive climate and energy agenda\"","block_context":{"text":"aggressive climate and energy agenda","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=aggressive-climate-and-energy-agenda"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/0Screenshot-2025-11-04-123904.png?fit=1200%2C724&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/0Screenshot-2025-11-04-123904.png?fit=1200%2C724&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/0Screenshot-2025-11-04-123904.png?fit=1200%2C724&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/0Screenshot-2025-11-04-123904.png?fit=1200%2C724&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/0Screenshot-2025-11-04-123904.png?fit=1200%2C724&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":410169,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=410169","url_meta":{"origin":391676,"position":3},"title":"Surprised by leftwing radical rhetoric? Look closer at the climate movement","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"10\/25\/2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Millions of Americans were horrified when Charlie Kirk was murdered in cold blood. Then came an even bigger shock: large numbers of people celebrated his death and danced on his grave.","rel":"","context":"In \"activists\"","block_context":{"text":"activists","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=activists"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/0AQOvCdd5WfhNCQ7780UzUzukkVa4odQVARt3QXESnuVIWQNgRqK6Oaj9s0R7mVE-NZ-dqkeY7mlmWLeuW9uqHPCy01qS1RisNEuvw7LnmB56QMmV8NUe83bgDveKxqay-1.jpeg?fit=1200%2C576&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/0AQOvCdd5WfhNCQ7780UzUzukkVa4odQVARt3QXESnuVIWQNgRqK6Oaj9s0R7mVE-NZ-dqkeY7mlmWLeuW9uqHPCy01qS1RisNEuvw7LnmB56QMmV8NUe83bgDveKxqay-1.jpeg?fit=1200%2C576&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/0AQOvCdd5WfhNCQ7780UzUzukkVa4odQVARt3QXESnuVIWQNgRqK6Oaj9s0R7mVE-NZ-dqkeY7mlmWLeuW9uqHPCy01qS1RisNEuvw7LnmB56QMmV8NUe83bgDveKxqay-1.jpeg?fit=1200%2C576&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/0AQOvCdd5WfhNCQ7780UzUzukkVa4odQVARt3QXESnuVIWQNgRqK6Oaj9s0R7mVE-NZ-dqkeY7mlmWLeuW9uqHPCy01qS1RisNEuvw7LnmB56QMmV8NUe83bgDveKxqay-1.jpeg?fit=1200%2C576&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/0AQOvCdd5WfhNCQ7780UzUzukkVa4odQVARt3QXESnuVIWQNgRqK6Oaj9s0R7mVE-NZ-dqkeY7mlmWLeuW9uqHPCy01qS1RisNEuvw7LnmB56QMmV8NUe83bgDveKxqay-1.jpeg?fit=1200%2C576&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":445101,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=445101","url_meta":{"origin":391676,"position":4},"title":"Fine them, jail crooked bosses, revoke their nonprofit status","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"05\/18\/2026","format":false,"excerpt":"What the Southern Poverty Law Center has done to America\u2019s racial and cultural cohesion is just the tip of the spear. Environmental groups and their enablers have inflicted equivalent damage. \u201cProgressive\u201d politicians, activists and journalists have long extolled the SPLC as the epitome of virtue and justice, \u201ca vigilant voice\u2026","rel":"","context":"In \"\u201chate group\u201d list\"","block_context":{"text":"\u201chate group\u201d list","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=hate-group-list"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/0-ChatGPT-Fine-them-jail-crooked-bosses-revoke-their-nonprofit-status.png?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/0-ChatGPT-Fine-them-jail-crooked-bosses-revoke-their-nonprofit-status.png?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/0-ChatGPT-Fine-them-jail-crooked-bosses-revoke-their-nonprofit-status.png?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/0-ChatGPT-Fine-them-jail-crooked-bosses-revoke-their-nonprofit-status.png?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/0-ChatGPT-Fine-them-jail-crooked-bosses-revoke-their-nonprofit-status.png?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":265037,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=265037","url_meta":{"origin":391676,"position":5},"title":"Zac Goldsmith\u2019s Resignation Letter Proves There is No Pleasing the Net Zero Fanatics","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"07\/02\/2023","format":false,"excerpt":"As Zac Goldsmith resigns over the supposed \u201capathy\u201d of the Government on environmental issues (yes, really), Camilla Tominey in the Telegraph says it just goes to show that there\u2019s no pleasing the Net Zero extremists.","rel":"","context":"In \"Boris Johnson\"","block_context":{"text":"Boris Johnson","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=boris-johnson"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/0Feat15c-1110x624-1.png?fit=1110%2C624&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/0Feat15c-1110x624-1.png?fit=1110%2C624&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/0Feat15c-1110x624-1.png?fit=1110%2C624&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/0Feat15c-1110x624-1.png?fit=1110%2C624&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/0Feat15c-1110x624-1.png?fit=1110%2C624&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/391676","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/121246920"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=391676"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/391676\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":391682,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/391676\/revisions\/391682"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/391678"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=391676"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=391676"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=391676"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}