The year 2020 is a year when it is dawning on some of us that we are living in climate change. Climate change is no longer subtle; it is hitting us literally with Hurricane Laura, the mid-west derecho on August 10th, and a million-acre “gigafire” in the West. The fires in California are so massive that they can be seen from outer space. Texas is being hit with stronger, bigger, and slower hurricanes. The derecho in the mid-west in June struck my neighborhood near Chicago with ferocity; there were tree limbs down all over the place, and thousands of people were without electricity for days. Farmers in Iowa fared even worse, because 40% of Iowa’s corn and soybeans were flattened by the derecho.

Governor Newsome in California was asked about the cost of cleaning up after the wildfires in recent years. He said that just the debris removal after the fires was a multibillion-dollar expense. Quoting Governor Newsome, “Folks think, well we can’t afford to address climate change. My gosh. The naiveté of that. Because the most expensive option is doing nothing.”

These catastrophes have been predicted by the vast majority of scientists for years, who said that storms and wildfires would become more frequent and severe if we do nothing to slow down the release of greenhouse gases. Also, scientists predicted the rising temperatures. In 1990, the U.S. military called climate change, “a threat multiplier.” I could go on and mention environmental catastrophes happening all over the world, for example the huge wildfires in Australia. Moreover, our changing climate is causing increasing numbers of people around the world to become refugees. In our own country, many people were displaced after Hurricane Katrina, and have had their homes destroyed in other hurricanes. Now we also have refugees from the wildfires in California.

I look at this natural world and see God’s amazing gifts to us in the flowers, trees, creatures, rivers, oceans, and an excellent climate. Pope Francis states in Laudato Si’, “The entire material universe speaks of God’s love, his boundless affection for us.” When we are given a lovely gift by a friend, we naturally express our appreciation. A way that we show appreciation for God’s gifts to us in this natural world is by taking care of those gifts He has given us, and not trashing them. When we disrespect the gifts, we disrespect the Giver of the gifts.

Many times in the Old and New Testament scriptures we are told to care for the poor, immigrants, the homeless, and the powerless. Katharine Hayhoe is a woman of faith and the Director of the Climate Science Center at Texas Tech University. Regarding climate change, Katharine says, “The poor, the disenfranchised, those already living on the edge, and those who contributed least to this problem are also those at greatest risk to be harmed by it. That’s not a scientific issue; that’s a moral issue. When I look around, the biggest way in which we are failing to care for those in need is through ignoring climate change and acting like it doesn’t exist. As a Christian, I believe that is something the church needs to know.” When we care for our Earth, we are caring for each other, and working for the common good of all humankind.

One of the most important things we can do to stop climate change, in addition to personal actions to help our environment, is to put taking care of the Earth near the top of our list of priorities when we go into the voting booth. Of course, it is not our only priority, but it is important enough to rise to one of our top five priorities. All of us care about our children and grandchildren and leaving them with an Earth that is beautiful and able to sustain life, and a decent quality of life. We need to think about that when we vote.

Vote for lawmakers who pledge to make cleaning up our air, water, and soil a top priority. Vote for politicians who will do all that they can to stop climate change. Specifically, vote for politicians who support the Green New Deal, the Paris Agreement, and organic and carbon-sequestration agriculture. If you live in Illinois, vote for state congresspeople who will vote to pass CEJA, the Clean Energy Jobs Act. Find out what pro-environmental laws are proposed in your state, and vote for people who will make them a reality. Also consider what environmentally friendly ordinances are proposed in your town or city, and vote for mayors and city council people who support them.

In closing I share part of a prayer from Michelle Balek, OSF: “All creation, each star and every flower, each drop of water and every person, each and every atom, down to its very electrons, explodes with the revelation of your Sacred Mystery. Our minds alone cannot fathom such splendor. Our hearts can only respond in awe, praise and gratitude.”

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