University of Denver Winter 2024

Earth’s climate is changing. This is nothing new. Over the past 800,000 years, Earth has cycled between ice ages and warmer periods eight times. What is new, according to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), is that Earth is warming at an unprecedented rate. Scientific information taken from ice cores, rocks and tree rings—as well as satellites and instruments—all point to this acceleration. Global temperatures rose about 1.1° C from 1901 to 2020. And NASA scientists say the summer of 2023 was Earth’s hottest in recorded history. Although a 1.1°C (2°F) temperature increase may not seem like much, it makes a difference in weather patterns. We’re seeing more frequent and intense weather events in the form of heat waves, droughts, hurricanes and wildfires. Images of Mother Nature’s power flood our news feeds, newspapers and broadcasts. What may not be so visible is the impact of climate change in our everyday lives. From the spread of diseases and effects on crops, to population displacement and loss of livelihoods, climate change disrupts the lives of individuals and communities in ways that may be felt but not always seen. In this story, we talk to DU professors about their research and climate change and how the two intersect. Some have been studying this for years, others just recently, but all hope to find ways to mitigate the impact of climate change that’s become increasingly present in their work. WORKING ON THE FRONT LINES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE Climate change does not affect all people equally. Some groups are more vulnerable due to social and economic factors like income, education, health care access and housing. As professionals dedicated to supporting marginalized communities, social workers are being asked to play a key role in the fight for environmental justice. Lisa Reyes Mason, an associate professor and interim dean in the Graduate School of Social Work, is leading the charge. Reyes Mason has been studying the intersection of climate change and social justice since 2008. She says that climate change led her to be a very interdisciplinary researcher, starting as a PhD student at Washington University in St. Louis. From day one, she began

28 | UNIVERSITY of DENVER MAGAZINE • WINTER 2024