Hello! 🌲🌎🦅
My name is James Clayton Wheeler and I am confirmed to be an Official Climate Observer at COP28 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates in just less than two weeks!!! On Monday, December 4th, I will be leaving Gordon College with my friend Carolina (who is also a CCOP participant) to embark on a thrilling journey to Dubai. Once there, we will link up with our other friends from the Christian Climate Observer Program (CCOP) who is organizing our involvement at COP28 hosted by the United Nations.
This conference (known as COP) assesses the effects of measures introduced by the Parties to limit climate change against the overall goal of the United Nations. It is hosted by a different city each year. Some of the notable cities at which COP has been are: Glasgow, UK, Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, and Paris, France where the notable Paris Agreement was created in 2015 which was a massive leap forward in policy as well as attitude towards seeking global sustainability and accountability. More to come on the trip. 🇺🇸🇺🇳🇦🇪
Now, I want all of you to understand me and why all this is important to me.
Most of the people who will read this newsletter are going to be my friends and family and so this is a message to you:
Yes, this is a global convention talking about everything from climate change to emissions to policy to humanitarian crises to water quality to the energy sector and its eventual transition
Yes, this is a hot button issue and one that some of you may not be comfortable talking or reading about
Yes, change is scary and there has been talk of a lot of big changes on the global stage lately
But Please, allow me to offer my thoughts on these things.
To start, I am a man of Christ. My faith and understanding of God has, I believe, led me to this CCOP opportunity and the desire to care for all of creation. Micah 6:8 says,
“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you. To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”
I've been meditating on this verse and asking God to use my love for nature and people for his kingdom and glory. I ask if you are willing to pray for me this as well.
I know who I am in Christ and will not standby at this time in the world where climate and environmental issues are being faced head on. The world needs Christian voices and servants in this field.
How did I get involved in biology and environmental science?
I grew up fascinated with nature. In fact, I fell in love with nature before I knew God. My love of the natural world is deeply tied with my identity. Since meeting God as a young child, I give the glory of my love of nature to the creator who made it all and has saved it all through Jesus’ great sacrifice.
I give credit of my now Godly love of nature to my Dad. My Dad is a science teacher at Fairport in Rochester and has always taught me to ask questions, seek boldly, and always dig deeper. I’m thankful to him for kindling my desire to bring my faith and questions into my studies and passions in creation.
In college, I have had the pleasure to study alongside the best professors who are both smarter than smart as well as passionate and caring about each and every student they mentor. I have had the opportunity to travel with Gordon staff or students out to Washington state for field classes with the amazing Au Sable Institute (shoutout Jon Terry, the Nords, and Mike Ferber), to Westmont in Santa Barbara, California with Dr. Boorse for the “Faith. Climate. Action” workshop with Christian students and leaders from around North America (watch video at end of this post), to Northern Vermont with Dr. Keller for studying mammals as well as this upcoming trip to Dubai for which Gordon College is helping me to prepare for.
Trip Details:
Leaving on Dec 4th until 13th
I’ll be writing a newsletter post every day I am at of COP28 as well as being active on my social medias (IG - @Jimmy.Wheels11 and LinkedIn)
The Gordon Comm. Dept. is partnering with me to write a few pieces on what I’m doing so I’ll link those when I can
Stay tuned!!!
As part of my constituency, I will be communicating what I learn from this conference back home to you all. Please reach out with any questions, comments, inquiries, or ideas!! I am sitting at the table and invite you to join me to talk :)
Great! I'm sure you will have a great trip. Look forward to reading and hearing all about it!
Wow, this is really cool - anonymous source