Early voting on Proposition 50 is underway. This vote is not just about democracy, but also about climate change.

For those of us who care about and understand the climate change threat, a yes vote is essential.

Prop. 50 is not “business as usual.” It is aberrant.

It is also a response to President Donald Trump and his Texas allies changing that state’s legislative map to create five new Republican legislative districts. Their intent is to ensure that Republicans keep control of the House of Representatives after the 2026 election.

This would allow Trump to continue implementing his agenda unopposed.

While the Texas Legislature undertook its mid-decade redistricting without consulting voters, Gov. Gavin Newsom introduced Prop. 50 to let voters decide if five new Democratic districts would be created in California to counter Texas.

If Prop. 50 passes, it should lead to checks and balances returning to Congress. A Democratic Party majority in the House will use its constitutionally granted power to chair committees, oversee Trump’s actions, issue subpoenas, decide what legislation is voted on, and check a Republican-controlled Senate.

For those of us who understand the threat from climate change, a yes vote is essential.

Trump and his administration treat climate change as if it is a hoax, ensuring increased greenhouse gas emissions from coal, oil and gas development.

At the same time, climate scientists are predicting that 2025 will be one of the top-three warmest years on record, exceeding the 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels tipping point from which we cannot come back.

This will result in more frequent and intense extreme weather events, such as heat waves, droughts and heavy rainfall, posing significant risks to human health, economies and ecosystems.

Santa Barbara has — since the 1969 oil spill, which led to the modern environmental movement — been a leader in fighting climate change.

Major greenhouse gas reduction projects are underway on the Central Coast, among them:

• The City of Santa Barbara’s move to 100% carbon-free energy with its Clean Energy program
• Santa Barbara’s Climate Action Plan
• California Climate Investments funding regenerative agriculture and energy efficiency projects
• Santa Barbara County’s vote to phase out oil production

Central Coast climate projects include expanding electric vehicle infrastructure, retrofitting buildings and implementing carbon farming (sustainable farming practices to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and sequester carbon in agricultural soils), and coastal wetland restoration.

The fight against global warming is ultimately centered on energy production and its fossil fuel greenhouse gas emissions.

The Strauss Wind Energy Project near Lompoc is leading the way. With its 29 wind turbine generators, it is providing greenhouse gas emission-free electricity to 40,000 Central Coast homes.

The State Lands Commission has accepted an application for the California Offshore Wind Energy Project to install four floating wind turbines in deep ocean waters, capable of generating 12-15 megawatts each, reaching a maximum production of 60 megawatts, enough energy for 60,000 homes.

Some of  the turbines would be located off the Santa Barbara County coast, near Vandenberg Space Force Base.  

Since his re-election, however, Trump has actively pursued policies to halt or obstruct wind power development.

The administration has blocked or delayed projects that were already underway, leading to costly uncertainty and stop-work orders for major projects off the coasts of Maryland and Rhode Island.

This kind of opposition has caused CADEMO to put the brakes on its offshore wind energy project.

Capturing wind energy from floating ocean platforms is considered essential to achieving California’s ambitious goal of electrifying its grid with 100% zero-carbon energy.

Wind energy is projected to power 25 million homes and provide about 13% of the state’s electricity by 2045.

It is also essential to climate change programs in Santa Barbara, which intends to achieve carbon neutrality by 2035, and Santa Barbara County, which intends to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030.

Prop. 50 is integral to wind energy being developed throughout California.

Given the speed with which climate change is progressing — 50% faster than expected in recent years — if there is no legislative mechanism to combat Trump’s and the Republican Party’s antipathy for renewable energy along with their support for more fossil fuel development and greenhouse gas emissions, another 3½ years of unfettered “Drill Baby Drill” will allow the United States to add to the rapid pace of global warming.

Democratic Party control of the House of Representatives would put the brakes on Trump, Republicans and the fossil fuel industry emitting more greenhouse gases into our overheating atmosphere.

In addition, it will allow Democrats, along with the environmental community, to develop and promote renewable energy initiatives.