The one-two punch of Hurricanes Helene and Milton have been especially devastating to the Southeast. It will be weeks, perhaps even months yet before communities from Florida to North Carolina are back on their feet and functioning anywhere near normal again. The fierce winds and torrential rains have been horrific, and Americans grieve with their neighbors over the death and destruction left in the wake of these historic storms. Even in Maryland, mercifully spared from any direct hit, we share in the pain — if not through friends and loved ones who found themselves in the thick of things than perhaps indirectly through losses like how the flooding shut down one of the nation’s largest suppliers of IV fluids in Marion, North Carolina, creating a potential shortage of supply for hospitals and other medical providers.

But if there is a lesson to be gleaned from these events, it is not just about the bravery of first-responders or the need to properly fund the Federal Emergency Management Agency (although both have also been made abundantly clear), it is about taking much-needed, overdue action to address climate change which has made such storms both more severe and more frequent. Simply stated, the warming of the oceans caused by manmade greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere have fueled these cataclysms, raised sea levels and intensified storm surges. We can no longer afford denial. The science is clear. We need to pursue reasonable steps to burn fewer fossil fuels and conserve what we do use while investing in alternative, less-polluting forms of energy.

The good news is that most Americans understand this. Polls show that roughly three out of four Americans believe the world climate is changing and leading to more extreme weather. Even in Florida, where Republicans running for statewide office often garner 60% majorities, polls show most people accept that climate change is real and making the weather worse. Indeed, last spring a poll conducted by Florida Atlantic University found that 90% of Floridians believe climate change is happening, which is even higher than the national average. So why is there any question? How can Donald Trump refer to climate change as a “hoax”? Why aren’t more Americans rising up to challenge climate deniers?

It’s clear that Trump and many other political conservatives have made a calculation that Americans care more about keeping down energy costs, especially the price at the gas pump, than they do about the long-term consequences of greenhouse gas emissions. They are betting that “drill, baby, drill” will get them the votes they need to win. Even in Florida, U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, who famously denied climate change as the state’s governor, may win reelection this fall. And why not? Ron DeSantis, the state’s current governor, signed legislation this year that erases references to climate change in state law.

There will always be some who will not accept the evidence before them. Some have difficulty drawing a distinction between weather (atmospheric conditions at a certain time) and climate (average weather over a much longer period). There will always be politicians who will take advantage of uncertainty to offer what people want — cheap energy that can be consumed without consequence — even if the reality is that such a thing doesn’t exist.

That’s why it’s essential for all of us to fight back. We must cast our votes for those who offer real leadership on climate change and are willing to make the tough choices to address a global problem. And we must call out indifference as well. Granted, we’re not certain protesting Orioles majority owner David Rubenstein, as a group of young people did Thursday at a Downtown Partnership of Baltimore event, is the most sensible approach, but at least we share their frustration. We can’t afford to passively accept the status quo on climate. Not when the stakes are so high.