We're taking climate change seriously. But it's not the only

In the words of Andrew R. Wheeler: “We’re taking climate change seriously. But it’s not the only environmental issue that we face as a planet.” These words are a reminder that the web of life is vast, and the dangers that threaten it are many. While the world’s gaze often fixes upon the great storm of climate change, Wheeler warns us not to be blinded to the other perils lurking in the shadows: poisoned waters, deforested lands, vanishing species, and the choking of oceans with plastic. His words urge us to widen our vision, to see the full tapestry of crises that press upon the earth.

The ancients, too, spoke of balance. They taught that when one thread in the fabric of the world is torn, the whole is weakened. To repair only one part while neglecting the rest is to invite eventual ruin. Climate change is indeed a vast challenge, reshaping storms and seas, but Wheeler points out that the human footprint is heavy in many other ways. Rivers die not from rising temperatures alone, but from industrial waste. Forests fall not only to drought, but to axes and flames. If we address only the storm in the sky, we may forget the sickness in the soil beneath our feet.

History gives us lessons in this blindness. In ancient Mesopotamia, farmers irrigated their fields, feeding cities and empires. Yet over time, they neglected the creeping salinization of their soil. Yields fell, famine followed, and kingdoms crumbled. The rulers may have celebrated short-term success, but by ignoring other environmental issues beyond their immediate concern, they doomed their civilization. Wheeler’s words echo this warning: that if we fight only one battle, we may yet lose the war for the earth.

Likewise, in the 20th century, the United States learned a similar lesson through the Dust Bowl. Farmers focused on maximizing crop yields without caring for the soil. When drought struck, the land, stripped of its roots, rose into the air and blotted out the sun. The disaster was not caused by climate change, but by mismanagement, by neglect of the broader environmental systems on which life depends. In response, conservation practices were born, teaching farmers to respect the land’s limits. This story shows the truth of Wheeler’s words: our challenges are many, and we must confront them all with foresight.

The deeper meaning of the quote lies in the call to holistic stewardship. To fight climate change is noble, but if we let our rivers die of pollution, if we allow mass extinctions to unravel ecosystems, if we choke the air with poisons that kill the lungs of children, then our battle is incomplete. The earth does not divide her wounds neatly; they bleed together. And so our response must not be narrow, but broad, embracing all aspects of the fragile balance upon which we depend.

The lesson here is clear: vigilance must be constant, and vision must be wide. A wise people will not pour all their energy into a single fire while leaving others to rage unchecked. Each person can act: by reducing waste, by preserving water, by planting trees, by demanding accountability from leaders not only for climate policy but for clean air, safe drinking water, and protection of habitats. For it is through countless small acts, joined together, that humanity can heal the wounds it has inflicted.

So let this teaching endure: climate change is a mighty storm, but it is not the only one. Do not narrow your sight to one horizon; look upon the whole earth and see the many struggles of life itself. Fight for the forests, for the rivers, for the creatures of the sea, as well as for the climate. In this way, our stewardship will be worthy of the gift of the world we have been given. And remember: a house does not stand because one pillar is strong, but because every pillar holds firm together.