Sitting in the POLITICO Hub at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland before a briefing on energy and I overhear an energy executive (I didn’t catch his name or where he worked) who quipped ‘well, carbon emissions are good for the environment,’ it was quickly followed up by another energy exec saying ‘we can’t say that!’

As someone with even a limited understanding climate science: that is wrong. Increased carbon emissions have played a large roll since the dawn of the industrial revolution in steadily raising temperatures.

Whether you’ve got a PhD in climate science or are even someone who notices that this past Christmas in Washington, DC it was over 90 degrees as we were singing ‘let it snow,’ one can’t ignore it.

Today, young Republicans, young conservatives and young evangelicals all recognize the threat of climate change as a threat to personal, national and global prosperity. I had the chance to attend an event sponsored by Young Conservatives for Energy Reform, where I met numerous social conservatives who articulated that support for clean air and clean water is critical to families. Additionally there were many national security hawks who have backed renewable energy to ensure that national security is not governed by reliance on Middle East oil.

So, don’t believe that politicians or energy executives speak for all Republicans, they’re turning on their TV’s and seeing glaciers melt, temperatures rise, weather getting worse and water is drying up, and yes, we know that carbon isn’t good for the environment.