As Republicans promote the state’s economic “miracle,” many climate scientists from Texas say prosperity has come at a steep price.

With its dependence on an energy industry that relies on extracting fossil fuels, scientists say Texas has become a large contributor to greenhouse gas emissions as well as more vulnerable to its consequences. Texas emits more greenhouse gases than any other state, according to federal data.

State Republican leaders, however, have questioned whether the earth is warming and that humans are responsible. Even if the science is true, officials say, Texas can do nothing meaningful without hurting its economy. Reducing emissions will drive up electricity prices and eliminate jobs, they argue.

Many scientists disagree, saying that Texas is missing an opportunity to be a leader in global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and that state agencies cannot continue to ignore the effects of climate change on water resources and coastal development, especially because they are already here.