Outdoor Pursuits member and rock climbing connoisseur, Mike Thomas, understands the significance of climate change. But he is not sure if this issue deserves the attention it receives in American politics. 

Climate change remains a controversial political topic in Congress -- with democrats preaching its significance and Republicans assuming ignorance -- generally speaking. 

“I know there’s a political side to climate change above us, but I don’t think people at Wake think of it that way. At least I don’t,” said Thomas. “I hike and camp so I know the environment is important. Not because I vote democrat.” 

With rising sea levels, disappearing lakes and dwindling glaciers, Thomas might have the right idea. Democratic politicians agree there is no time left to waste, and that the politics are interfering with what is necessary. 

“I’ve got exactly no Republican colleagues helping me out with this” said Senator Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island in an interview with The New York Times. 

He’s not far from the truth. 

According to PolitiFact, a Tampa Bay Times project, only 3 percent of current Republican Congress members have been willing to go on record as accepting the fact that people are causing global warming. 

“I’m not qualified to debate the science over climate change.” said John Boehner, Republican House Speaker, in an interview with The New York Times. “But I am astute enough to understand that every proposal that has come out of this administration to deal with climate change involves hurting our economy and killing American jobs.” 

With streets flooding in Florida, climate change remains a hot topic in political debate.   

“I’m not a scientist,” said Rick Scott, Florida’s Republican governor, in an interview with The Miami Herald. 

Still, some Republican politicians are coming around.  

“Clearly rising tides are going to affect us,” said George Neugent, Republican, Monroe County, FL. commissioner, in an interview with The New York Times.   

Here at Wake, students and faculty recognize this political uproar as it affects their campus. 

Wake Forest biology professor, Miles Silman, for example, acknowledges the politics surrounding oil companies and sustainability, but he thinks a carbon tax would actually help these companies in the long run.  

Wake’s Director of Sustainability, Dedee Johnston, also stands as an example against environmental politics. “This is not a political issue,” said Johnston. “I grew up in a Conservative household. It is a global issue because it is our home.”

Junior, outdoor pursuit member, Bennett Brownlow, shared similar negative views on the politics behind climate change. But he offered another perspective.  “I came from a mixed household politically, my dad conservative and my mom more liberal,” said Brownlow. “I do think people here are mostly conservative and probably don’t care for that reason. But for me, I grew up hiking and learning about keeping forests clean because my parents liked nature too. That’s it.”   

Some however do not feel the politics at Wake contribute to student’s thoughts on climate change. 

“I actually see a lot of people around here that care. Reusable water bottles, composts, things like that,” said junior Dakota Lee. “The political controversy is so dumb to me though, and I think most Wake students would agree.” 

He may be correct. 

“It’s obviously human-caused,” said junior Elizabeth Earle. “I’m a Republican, and I’m tired of the ignorance.” 

But outdoor pursuit members and nature lovers, Thomas and Brownlow, think otherwise. 

“People here just don’t care. Probably because of the way they were raised,” said Thomas. “My parents are split politically, and I sort of am too. But none of that should matter. But unfortunately, it does.” 

Despite political differences, Wake students, Democrat and Republican, seem to agree the politicization of climate change should not hinder this country from practicing sustainability.             

“I consider myself conservative,” said junior Thomas Keshian. And I may think some Democrats exaggerate a little about climate change, but I love the outdoors; we need to protect it. I would hate to see it all to go away.”