The weather outside may not be frightful, but it is still the time of year when we start to talk about counting blessings. Maybe that means spending more time with family, friends, even sharing a gift or a meal. Something worth remembering, though, is the blessing of a planet that makes it all possible.

When I was younger, I took for granted the idea of a white Christmas. Growing up in the snow belt, it was virtually guaranteed that each day from November-March gave us more than enough snow.

Sadly, that prospect has dwindled somewhat over the last decade. For some, a green Christmas is the least of our worries. For many, this shift in climate means heat waves, record wildfires, and super storms battering their homes. Sixteen of the 17 hottest years on record have occurred since 2000, and it’s about time that we stand up and tackle the issue.

If Washington really wants to help us celebrate the holidays and the new year, it must begin to seriously invest in the only world that we have. That means acknowledging our role in climate change, safeguarding environmental protection and working toward a greener, cleaner future.

– Nathaniel Ropski