If you're on this mailing list, you probably understand the emotional weight that comes with being an environmental advocate. For me, tending to my flowers helps ease that anxiety. But here we are, in a local drought, and I'm watching my flowers droop. It makes me wonder about the future of our planet—little water, scorching heat. 2023 was the hottest year on record, and 2024 is shaping up to break that record.

It leaves me asking: what can one person really do? Writing about these issues felt futile, so I took a break from this newsletter to reflect on its purpose.

A quick online search shows I am not alone in my climate anxiety. 

To my surprise, people began asking if they had missed a newsletter or if I had stopped sending them.

Then came Hurricane Helene, fueled by abnormally warm ocean temperatures—an event scientists have warned us about for years. No one was prepared for 30 inches of rain on mountainous terrain. What happened was climate change at its most devastating.

So yes, one person can make a difference. It's crucial that we use both our vote and our voice—and encourage others to do the same.

For those who don't know, I serve on the Board of Directors for the League of Women Voters (LWV) Wichita Metro. The League is a nonpartisan, grassroots organization dedicated to empowering everyone to participate fully in democracy.

What many people don't realize is that the League's work is grounded in thorough study and advocacy. These studies, which can last one to three years, involve reviewing facts and details from all sides before reaching a consensus on the issues we support.

As a result of this process, the LWV supports climate policies based on the best available science to ensure a stable climate for future generations.

While I cannot endorse a political party as a member of LWV, I can advocate for voting based on issues. Since you're on this mailing list, I assume you're also concerned about how our candidates and representatives address climate change and environmental issues. I encourage you to create a list of the issues that matter most to you, so you're ready to ask about them when canvassers come to your door or if you receive a call from a local candidate.

For example, I once got a call from a candidate and was so caught off guard that I was tongue-tied! When I collected myself, I asked her about Medicaid expansion. If had been better prepared I would have asked if she supported a ban on plastic bags.

To help you create your list of most important issues, here's a report from The Medical Society Consortium on Climate and Health that you can download. Below is also a survey from the City of Wichita's Sustainability Integration Board. Use these questions and resources to prepare your thoughts on what's most important to you.

For Sedgwick County residents, here’s a link to a document with all our local races, along with links to the candidates' online information. Surprisingly, many candidates don't have a strong online presence, which made compiling this list more difficult than expected.

If you can't find information on where your local candidates stand on the issues that matter to you, don’t hesitate to call them and ask! That's what they're there for. And don’t feel embarrassed—they’re running to represent you, so they should be happy to share their views.

Let me know if this information was helpful or if there's something more in-depth you'd like me to address about voting with the environment in mind. You can reach me at [email protected].

All my best, Randi

Take the survey from the Sustainability Integration Board and City of Wichita

The City of Wichita is gathering community feedback on a draft version of a Climate Action Plan developed In collaboration with Wichita State University’s Community Engagement Institute and the Sustainability Integration Board. Wichita community members are urged to take the survey and share what they see as the most important environmental issues for the City and community to be focusing upon.

Survey: https://wichitastate.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_7QjPjLNtkwjLRdQ

Draft Plan: https://www.wichita.gov/DocumentCenter/View/29744/Wichita-Climate-Action-Plan-918-Public-Draft-PDF

Please share this survey with others. If you want to know more about what the City is doing about sustainability, send your inquiry to [email protected].

Hey, hey! Check out the new Sustainability Integration Board’s webpage: www.Wichita.gov/Sustainability. Guess who is listed as a community resource to get more involved? Yep, 316 United. Yeah!

RECYCLE - REUSE - CONSERVE