A different world

Like many, I’m still processing last week’s election.

Immigration, reproductive rights, health insurance, LGBTQ rights, freedom of the press, freedom of religion, civil rights, human rights, global relations—it’s overwhelming to think of all the ways Donald Trump’s presidency may affect this country.

One thing sure to have universal impact is his stance on the environment. Trump’s made it clear he believes climate change is a “hoax” and that he’d like to dismantle the Environmental Protection Agency. And that’s just for starters.

Last year, SN&R partnered with dozens of alternative weekly papers for “Letters to Future: The Paris Climate Project,” a collaboration featuring letters written to future generations by writers and artists, scientists, politicians and activists. Each letter predicted the outcome of the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference, during which world leaders gathered to find common ground on the Paris Agreement, a treaty aimed at reducing the effects of global warming.

The Paris Agreement passed with more than 195 countries pledging to reduce carbon emissions, but Trump has already said he plans to withdraw from the accord.

In this week’s feature story reporter Alastair Bland examines what a Trump administration means for climate change (see “Save the Earth,” page 14). The story, which includes steps we can still take to slow climate change, will run in alternative weeklies nationwide over the next few weeks.

It may all seem overwhelming, but it’s time to mobilize. We can make changes at national, statewide and local levels. We must start at home.