The Inflation Reduction Act recently passed by Congress represents (despite its name) what former Vice President and environmental activist Al Gore called “a historic turning point” and “the single largest investment in climate solutions & environmental justice in US history.” And it couldn’t be timelier. As the US marked the second hottest summer on record (2021 was worse, but the trend isn’t a good one), environmental changes are also showing up locally in the too-early blooming season for cherry blossoms, drought on the one hand and the threat of floods on the other (note the new “High Water Mark” sculpture on the Wharf that illustrates this potential threat).

treat all nature’s gifts with respect

Health and mental health issues caused by extreme heat are especially challenging for those without access to air conditioning and other means of cooling off, and environmental hazards like air pollution are worse in DC’s predominantly Black wards, which include commuter routes like New York Avenue NE and DC 295 (driving is a major source of air pollution). Organizations that protect our natural resources, clean our rivers, care for our watersheds, advocate for green spaces, and cultivate our lands in sustainable ways (while feeding people in the process), are all doing their part to address locally what is, after all, a global challenge. And while caring for the non-human members of our society is not exactly an environmental mandate, the motivating spirit behind both is the same: treat all living things, like all of nature’s gifts, with sensitivity and respect, choosing to preserve rather than hurt or discard them. We are all the beneficiaries of this kind of respect and care.