Those closest to me know my love for autumn. I love everything about it – the colors, the smells, the cooler weather, the cute yet comfy clothes, and college football. But one thing I love about autumn more than almost anything else is the representation of change and the promise of new beginnings. Autumn is where (almost) all my yard plants enter dormancy in preparation for the coming winter and future growing season, when the new school year starts, and when we start looking forward to holiday traditions with family and friends to close out the year and start a new one.
This autumn, I find myself reflecting on the changes we’ve seen in the water and environmental sphere – EPA announced final National Primary Drinking Water Regulations for six PFAS; SCOTUS ruled on Loper Bright Enterprises vs. Raimondo, ending the Chevron deference; and Hurricane Helene brought unprecedented damage to western North Carolina, just to name a few. And there are more changes on the horizon – especially with the U.S. presidential election in a few weeks guaranteeing a shake up of appointed agency officials, regardless of the election results.
While it’s easy to sit back and reflect on the past year (or more) with a negative view, I challenge you to use this autumn season to reframe your view. Look for the positives in the situations and identify the opportunities as much as you reflect and commiserate on the negatives. Find issues you are passionate about and use this season of change to make headway on those issues. While you might think that your contributions will not amount to much, you can never predict the ripple effects of your actions. I’m sure the men and women who started the Cajun Navy after Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and reactivated it in 2016 following massive flooding in Louisiana probably had no clue that they were creating and growing a huge humanitarian effort that has saved thousands of lives after natural disasters. Just like I’m sure Bob Bilott did not fully comprehend that his actions over the course of 20 plus years would results in six PFAS chemicals being added to the National Primary Drinking Water Regulations or that EPA would propose adding 16 individual PFAS and 15 PFAS categories representing more than 100 individual PFAS to the Toxics Release Inventory, which would also designate them as chemicals of special concern so they must meet more robust reporting requirements, including reporting even for small concentrations. Sometimes, all we need to start a wave of change is a hopeful spirit, an unwavering dedication, and the promise of change on the horizon.
As we continue through this autumn, I encourage you to reflect on the past year – both the positives and negatives, find someplace in your life where you want to make a positive change, and gear up for the season ahead. While we can’t predict the future or know what’s coming, we can guarantee there will be change. Let’s work to ensure we’re the change we want to see in the world.