My water bottle slipped through my hands, which were unable to hold the bottle, as they were covered in sweat. I was trying to take a rest in the shade from the 100 degree heat. I’d been working all day with my field crew, measuring Emory Oak trees so that researchers could track their population status across Arizona. But, I was so weak and so exhausted, reaching down to pick up my dropped water bottle made me feel ready to collapse and melt into the parched ground. The only thing my mind could think about was the overwhelming fear of what these rising temperatures meant for both the future of society and the earth.
As both a scientist and a Christian, I believe that everyone has a reason to be concerned about climate change, and therefore a reason to vote. I am a master’s student at Northern Arizona University studying the effects of wildfire. Climate change is causing more frequent droughts, which in turn make fuels more likely to ignite. These drought-inflicted dense forests created by decades of fire suppression are the perfect recipe for large scale high intensity wildfires. These wildfires bring flash flooding, infrastructure damage, and ecosystem destruction to the areas they inflict. Voting with climate in mind could lead to creating policy that could help lessen the effects of these wildfires in Arizona.
My faith is the reason I chose to go down this path of studying the environment. My Christian faith calls me to care for the vulnerable and care for Creation. Vulnerable populations, such as the elderly and people experiencing homelessness, are more likely to suffer from the impacts of climate change. Heat waves are becoming more frequent across Arizona, taking the lives of these vulnerable groups. In addition, the earth that God created, and we depend on to survive, is degrading right before our eyes. Water levels of the Colorado River are dropping every year, with water becoming a scarcer and more precious resource across the southwest.
Both my faith and my science values teach me not to despair in what seems like a bleak future. Instead, they give me the tools to take action to create growth and restoration where there was once destruction and hopelessness. I believe that voting with climate in mind is one way where I can both live out my faith and advocate for science.
My hope for my future is that I can do field research to understand how the earth is being impacted by the choices that humans have made. I hope that one day, the people of the Southwest can enjoy their summers without having to worry about extreme wildfires or heat waves. I hope that one day, every child in Arizona can hug an Emory Oak tree and acknowledge the beautiful way that humans and nature care for and support each other.
The rest of my field crews meander over to the shade where I sit, allowing their backs and faces a quick break from the scorching sun. After we all have a quick break, my strength feels re-invigorated for a moment. On our first day in the field, the challenge of measuring so many Emory Oak trees across the state of Arizona seemed insurmountable when we were only able to finish two sites. But, I realize, with the companionship of my crew and the grace of the shade, maybe, it will be attainable.
