Global climate change driven by human activity is perhaps the largest scale social justice issue that society has ever faced. Since the industrial revolution, the use of fossil fuels for energy and manufacturing have led to substantial changes in the concentrations of greenhouse gases found in Earth’s atmosphere, especially carbon dioxide. These gases trap warmth from the sun and are a major contributor to the planet’s climate. As these gases continue to increase, the climate system is changing with them. Climate change is further exacerbated by non-sustainable resource use and environmental degradation. My research aims to understand how changes in atmospheric carbon dioxide and other phenomena related to global climate change will impact natural and agricultural ecosystems by studying the response of plant development and physiology to climate change. I also work to help people understand the causes of climate change, the consequences of climate change for ecosystems and society and how society should respond to minimize the damage that it has and will cause through my research, teaching, and community outreach activities as viewed through the lens of Catholic Social Teaching.
