Nutrients for Restoration - COP27

Back in Flagstaff: Abstract COP27 had fed fuel to my firey passion on climate change. During the COP, I felt like I was unstoppable and unquenchable. I was meeting so many different people - from Nigeria, South Africa, Rwanda, Easter Island, Canada, Australia - all these people committed to climate action with me! As I saw nighttime glow of LA sprawled beneath the the airplane window, as the shuttle chugged up the Arizona highway, as I popped my food in the microwave, the clouds and mist around my fire faded.  Nothing had changed - including the politicians. All talk and no action. This is my silent scream to our world leaders to do something , before restoration is out of reach. Challenge How can you call out your representatives to take action on climate? Can you call them or write a letter? Here's a link you can use to call your representative:  https://citizensclimatelobby.org/call-your-representative/#/54/ Full story When I first stepped foot back in the biology building ...

Some of the CCOP team helping with a demonstration where we did a skit of a wedding between Finance and Political Will Christian Climate Observers Program at our final dinner together A few of CCOP group Hearing John Kerry speak First day was overwhelming, but got some photos! Researcher from Nigeria I met doing research on wetland restoration and invasive species in Nigeria Panel with scientists and youth activists discussing the Amazon, Africa, and the Arctic are being affected by climate change I did get to go to the Red Sea one day! Biodiversity and Nature Based Solutions are the closest to my heart

Abstract: An ecosystem is diverse, with each species playing an important role. I think sometimes it’s easy for scientists to get caught up in studying one species but forget that each species is just a part of a whole. That’s what I’ve learned this week: that I’m never alone in the struggle to push climate change action. In fact, I’ve got people in my local community, people in the CCOP program, people from around the world, the whole earth, cheering for me. Challenge: How can you empower someone else to act on climate change? The act of empowering someone else will bring you the hope and support of community in this climate crisis. Full story: So here I am at COP27 for my last day. The past week I’ve spent wandering and listening and talking, all with the words “climate change” imprinted across the front of my brain. This experience has been overwhelming, as I’ve learned an experienced so many things, yet on the other hand, sometimes I feel like all the information I’ve l...

  Abstract: Plants need to do photosynthesis to grow. To do photosynthesis, plants have to take in water, nutrients, and the sun, put these components through a series of chemical reactions, in order to create energy that they can use to grow. At COP, I feel like I’ve been taking in so much material. It’s been hard to keep track of everything I’ve been experiencing and going on inside of me. I think with some processing and journaling, I may discover some hidden energy and growth that won’t be revealed until after the COP. Moral of the story, stay tuned even after the COP. Challenge: Are you experiencing burnout? Is there anyway you can take a break to let your brain and body process the emotions you are going through? Full story: Lowell always seems to say things that I need to hear every morning at morning devotionals. Today, he said some deep advice I really needed to hear. Don’t forget to eat lunch. I was chowing down on breakfast, eating salad, because it was...

Abstract I’ve never enjoyed crowds of people, and I think I’ve exerpienced the most stimulation I ever had in my life in these two days of COP27 so far. I’ve met and heard from so many different people in the world, and I don’t know how to fit all the opinions, ideas, action, and emotions inside my introvert, homebody brain. People aren’t the only aspect of the globe that is complex - the natural world also has a beautiful complexity. The forest is not just comprised of trees. The trees depend on the fungi, insects, birds, in order to survive and thrive. Maybe there is beauty in the complexity. Maybe it’s okay to sit in a place of complex feelings, and feel the beauty of that as I move forward to keep learning. Challenge: What emotions come up when you hear the words "climate change?" Take time to recognize and sit with your feelings. Trying journaling about them, or if you are a person of faith, pray about them and bring them to God, letting Him meet you in your fe...

Abstract: If two plants are growing in the same environment, there usually aren’t enough resources around to make everyone happy. This competition for resources like water and nutrients, however, can drive innovation, adaptation, and evolution in plants. After walking around and looking at each country’s pavilion, beautiful displayed with photos of stunning landscapes from the country, and statistics on how they are working to solve climate change, I wondered:   How can friendly competition be used to drive action and adaptation? Challenge: Can you organize a competition with your friend and family (or against yourself) to make being sustainable more fun? It can even be something small like, who can use the least paper towels this week? This competition might even spark some innovation… Full story: There were two different events at COP27 that I focused on today: the opening ceremony with the world leaders gathering to talk and walking around and looking at pavilions in...

Abstract Wildfires make the news. On the other hand, planting seedlings for wildfire restoration is never a top headline. Which, though, is a symbol of hope? Today, I felt the energy of hope in the COP venue. Here were people from all over the world, prepared and energized to share their stories for a single mission: to mitigate and adapt to climate change. This act of meeting and planting seeds of hope together is what will fertilize a restoration we so deeply need for our planet. Challenge  (I'm adding this section if you're interested in having your own challenge on how to get involved) How can you get together with people you know and love to discuss or plan how you as a community can work towards a sustainable future? Full story When I walked into the COP27 registration venue, my mouth dropped open. Here were people from all over the world, all here for the same purpose, with the same drive: to talk about solutions to climate change.  The wildfires in the Western United S...

Museum Fire Site - 2019 fire Horseshoe Fire Site - 1998 fire Abstract When the Museum Fire blazed the lush and rugged ponderosa forest of Flagstaff into charred matchsticks, it left a decimated blank slate. Mia and I saw the painting that ensued from this blank canvas - a monoculture of a tall, thick stemmed, fuzzy leafed non native plant called mullein. While seeing this recent fire site brought emotions of despair welling to my throat, I had to remind myself of the older fire sites we’d visited - beautiful meadow mosaics made of many different species of flowers and grasses. Even though these fire sites weren’t restored to their original forest glory, there was a new type of beauty to behold. Climate change has already sparked changes we cannot reverse. But this fire we call climate change does not mean there is no hope for restoration - planting new seeds could give us a world that we can still find beauty in - maybe a new, open, and inspiring type of beauty.  Full Story Mia and...