Sociologist Dr. Andrew Perrin argued that the threat of populist authoritarianism is another reason why democracies should seek to address climate change adequately. Conservatives replied in predictable ways without really grappling with the underlying implications of the paper: two forms of governance are necessary but conflict with one another. On the one side we have popular sovereignty/self-determination and on the other we have rights and protections for individuals and minorities. We need to find a way to bolster both to strengthen democracy.

When we look to 2024, it’s easy to focus on the doomsday scenario: an election where legitimate results get thrown out. But our democracy has been eroding for years — and we’ve never been an equal democracy for everyone in the first place.