# What the growing Latino community can do for climate politics

*Published:* 2014-04-09
*Author:* Lucía Oliva Hennelly

*(This post originally appeared on [EDF Voices](http://www.edf.org/blog/2014/04/09/what-growing-latino-community-can-do-climate-politics). Para leer in Espanol [haga clic aquí](http://blogs.edf.org/californiadream/2014/04/09/lo-que-la-creciente-comunidad-latina-podria-lograr-para-las-politicas-del-cambio-climatico/))*

In 2012 Latinos made up [1 in 10 voters](http://www.pewhispanic.org/2012/11/07/latino-voters-in-the-2012-election/) and helped decide the Presidential election with record-setting voter margins. Last month in California, the most populous state in the nation, the Hispanic population surpassed that of non-Hispanic whites. The only other state to reach this benchmark is New Mexico, where the Latino population is [almost 10% larger than that of non-Hispanic whites](http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/35000.html).

As the Latino population continues to grow across the country, so does its influence in key political arenas. In battleground states like Florida, Colorado, and Nevada, Latinos accounted for [17, 14, and 18 percent](http://www.pewhispanic.org/2012/11/07/latino-voters-in-the-2012-election/) of voters in 2012, respectively, an increase from previous elections. The trend has reignited a lively discussion about the influence of the American Latino community, the “sleeping giant” of American politics.

There’s also a lesser-known political trend that is emerging among the country’s youngest and fastest-growing demographic: the **demand among Latinos for action** to address climate change. In a [new national poll](http://www.nrdc.org/media/2014/140123b.asp) released last month by the Natural Resources Defense Council and Latino Decisions:

- 9 out of 10 Latino voters “want the government to take action against the dangers of global warming and climate change”
- 8 in 10 Latinos want the President to curb the carbon pollution that causes climate change
- 86% of Latinos support limits on carbon pollution from power plants

**How is this demographic shift significant to environmental advocacy?**

The implications of this demographic moving so clearly in favor of pro-environmental policies is significant. For one, environmental policy issues are likely to fast become determining issues for Latino voters on **both sides of the aisle**. According to Latino Decisions, a leader in Latino political opinion research, the only other policy issue that has received such high levels of support is immigration reform, an issue in the lead among the [most significant deciding issues](http://www.latinodecisions.com/blog/2013/03/05/new-poll-immigration-policy-stance-directly-tied-to-winning-the-latino-vote/) for Latino voters across the political spectrum.

This demographic shift is also significant as the impacts of climate change become more severe. In recent months, **key electoral states** with large Latino populations have felt the devastating effects of climate change, from the unprecedented flooding in Colorado to California’s historic drought. With [50,000 Latinos turning 18 every month](http://www.votolatino.org/about), a solid stance on environmental policy may fast become a make or break issue for elected officials in these states and at the national level.

Combined, these trends paint a clear picture, one of a Latino population that disproportionately supports action on climate change and that is increasingly influential in key political states.

Environmentalists, take note: this is a **major opportunity**for the environmental movement to move forward policy that has stalled in the past. Equally as urgent, it is a tremendous opportunity to elevate the voices of Latinos, among other communities of color, disproportionately affected by environmental issues. A few examples:

- It’s a chance to build support for green jobs initiatives, many of which will be undertaken by Latinos and Latinas
- It’s a call to arms to better address the environmental health impacts that [disproportionately affect Latino communities](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2967224/)

Perhaps most important, it’s an open door to create more space for diversity in a movement that needs broader support to succeed, and one that will be more effective by better engaging underrepresented communities. How well we do this will be a measure of how quickly and how equitably we hope to meaningfully address climate change, the defining issue of our time.