Bellevue East students observed warmer temperatures during winter break this year, reflecting the effects of climate change in Nebraska.
Clint Rowe, a professor in the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, studies these climate patterns and has expressed concern about their impact. According to the United Nations, climate change is defined as long-term changes in temperature and weather patterns observed by scientists worldwide.
“Climate change continues to be a relevant issue,” Rowe said. “One of the things that we know almost everywhere climatologically is that the warming that we’ve been experiencing is more pronounced in the cold seasons, almost everywhere in the world.”
Although climate change affects regions worldwide, its effects are also visible at the local level. Clint Rowe is a contributing author of the 2014 report Understanding and Assessing Climate Change: Implications for Nebraska, which examines rising temperatures and shifting seasonal patterns in the state. These trends have continued in recent years.
“There’s no question that the climate of Nebraska has gotten warmer,” Rowe said. “Not just weather. We have seen patterns in precipitation. I’ve been here for 40 years, and I could say that it’s definitely warmer in the winter than it used to be.”
The changes in Nebraska’s climate extend beyond warmer winter temperatures. These shifts influence agriculture, natural resources and daily life, making climate change a growing concern.
“Because of this [climate change], it’s possible, in some cases, to increase the length of the growing season.” Rowe said, “Farmers may be able to plant a little bit earlier and perhaps grow things later into the fall. But then there might be a lack of moisture, so in some places might see less.”
As the effects of climate change become more apparent, efforts to address the issue have increased. Communities and organizations have begun exploring solutions aimed at reducing environmental impact. One of them includes East’s Green Initiative club. The club sponsor, instructor Rachel Carraher, works with club members to promote sustainability.
“Green Initiative raised funds and implemented composting, we do recycling for the teachers’ classrooms, we help take care of the garden, and we propagate plants to raise funds,” Carraher said. “Climate change is to me, the issue of our species. So I try to tell them [Green Initiative members] and educate them on [climate change]. While this is a monstrous task, all we can do as an individuals is do our best in our little pocket of the world that we exist within”
The United Nations states that it is important for adolescents to stay informed about climate change because it will continue to impact future generations. Clubs and organizations around Bellevue both act and inform. Sophomore Chase Parson is involved with not only Green Initiative, but also an Omaha group called Students for Sustainability.
“The biggest thing people can do to fight climate change is stay informed,” Parson said. “In the age of technology and AI, there are so many fake news stories, it’s important to check sources. After getting informed, then you can start to attend local protests or get involved locally. Joining a group like Students for Sustainability is an amazing way to make an impact locally. Another way to take action is to email and call your representatives.”
While current initiatives aim to slow climate change, experts continue to examine what future climate conditions may look like. An updated version of the climate report addresses how climate change will increase in Nebraska.
“Assuming that nothing gets done to really reduce the impact of humans on our climate, the issue will grow,” Rowe said. “It’s really gonna impact the younger generation’s future much more profoundly.”