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As a student at UNLV, originally from Guam, I appreciate the acceptance of diversity and unity of cultures at my university. This unity will be diminished if humanity does not take steps to mitigate the devastating effects of climate change.
Pacific islands, similar to Guam, have already seen homes and farmlands destroyed by rising tides. Residents from Kiribati are seeking refuge, faced with the fact that they must evacuate and watch as their land erodes.
Survivors of the recent Atlantic hurricanes are all too familiar with this experience. The Environmental Protection Agency plays a critical role in recovery efforts, coordinating closely with state, tribal and federal partners in response to these hurricanes.
The EPA has always worked to regulate and alleviate damage to the environment. The 31 percent proposed budget cut would make the agency less effective in regulating the most basic protections, like making sure our state has clean air to breathe and safe water to drink.
Defend Our Future, the nonpartisan climate action organization where I am currently interning, is pushing to fully fund the EPA and ensure the public health and safety of Nevadans. We are calling on our U.S. senators to do the same.
Just like the varying cultures of Guam and UNLV, we are all united as citizens of this planet. We need to come together to make our voices heard about the harmful effects of climate change, and move to stop these budget cuts for the good of Nevada and for the good of the world.
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