In this op-ed, youth climate activist Rose Strauss writes about her experience with Scott Wagner, a Republican candidate for Pennsylvania governor. Wagner called Rose “young and naive” after she asked a question at one of his campaign events.

“Young and naive”. That's how I was dismissed by Pennsylvania’s GOP gubernatorial candidate Scott Wagner when I confronted his baseless claims about climate change. I stood up to ask a simple question — Pennsylvanians are concerned about climate change and you say it’s caused by body heat. Does this have anything to do with the $200,000 you’ve taken from the fossil fuel industry? His response to my question shocked me.

I was the first young women to come up to the mic. The first thing Scott Wagner did when I got up to speak was to interrupt me — “Hey, how are you?” He didn’t do this to anyone else who asked a question. I could hear the crowd giggle in response, almost approving of his interruption. My hands started sweating and I got confused. All of a sudden, I forgot the question I had prepared.

Despite the distraction, I knew what I was there to figure out: Scott Wagner’s connection to the fossil fuel executives responsible for sowing climate change denial and inaction for decades. I study environmental science in school and have been studying environmental issues since I was 12 years old. I’m intimately aware of earth systems, the greenhouse effect, and the damage warming gases have on our climate, oceans, and people. I wanted to see Scott Wagner look a young woman in the eyes and reckon with his reckless stance on climate change, an issue that threatens very life on earth.

What he said in response stunned me. There I was, one of the youngest people in the town hall, standing up to ask a question about something I care about deeply. To hear a grown man, a politician at that, deride me by calling me “young and naive” was one of the most embarrassing and frustrating moments of my life. I felt a pang in my heart. I felt belittled. Insignificant. I wanted to scream.

Behind Scott’s patronizing sexism are hundreds of thousands of dollars from the fossil fuel industry. According to Follow The Money, this year alone, Scott Wagner has accepted $200,000 from fossil fuel executives, lobbyists, and PACs. A 2015 report from Penn State University indicates Pennsylvania will be 5.4 degrees warmer in 2050 than it was in 2000, meaning Philadelphia will resemble current day Richmond, VA. This would devastate our economy and ruin countless lives. Polling shows that two thirds of people in Pennsylvania say climate change is already causing problems. Scott Wagner’s inaction on climate change threatens the lives and livelihoods of the very people he hopes to serve.

So let me respond to Scott Wagner and all politicians like him who think I’m young and naive.

If being “young and naive” means I want a stable planet, clean air and water, and safe, good paying jobs for my community, then call me young and naive.

If being “young and naive” means I expect my politicians to reject contributions from the fossil fuel CEOs and lobbyists most responsible for burning our planet, then call me young and naive.

If being “young and naive” means I believe no one should lose their home from a flood, a fire, or other climate disaster because of a few wealthy corporate executives wanted to make a few extra bucks, then call me young and naive.

Fossil fuel executives and lobbyists get away with their pay-to-play politics because they corrupt our democracy in the shadows. It’s our role to bring their actions into the light. In 2018, young people are saying no more. No. More. Fossil. Fuel. Money. Our home and futures are on the line; 2018 must be the year that fossil fuel executives can no longer call the shots in Washington.