The column below reflects the views of the author, and these opinions are neither endorsed nor supported by WisOpinion.com.

If the news is making you feel anxious, concerned, or overwhelmed lately – you’re not alone. A lot has happened recently that may make one feel uneasy – from our state’s bipartisan environmental conservation program, the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program, expiring due to Republican inaction, to extreme heat and wildfire smoke smothering our communities.

Summer is treasured here in Wisconsin. It’s a time for enjoying your favorite parks, getting out on the lake, hiking, biking, birding, camping – whatever your heart desires. When simply stepping outside during these peak summer months is uncomfortable and, at times, unhealthy, it can feel like we are heading down a destructive path. 

I often wonder: what will happen if we choose not to invest in the things that make our state great? If we allow those in power to dismiss investments in our health, our environment, and our collective future as frivolous spending, what will become of us and the things we love most about Wisconsin?

We cannot do nothing and assume we will be able to breathe clean air, drink clean water, and enjoy Wisconsin’s beautiful outdoors into the future. In order to protect these most basic freedoms, we need to act now to address urgent issues facing our state. 

I already mentioned the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program, which enabled us to protect Wisconsin’s land, water, and wildlife for nearly 40 years. In fact, because of Knowles-Nelson, over 750,000 acres of land in Wisconsin have been protected and over 1,000 parks, trails, and waterways have been improved. We know that beyond being good for our environment, protecting our natural spaces is good for our health and wellness too. Trees clean our air and wetlands filter our water and help mitigate flooding. Access to nature is tied to improved cardiovascular health; lower mortality rates; and lower rates of stress, anxiety, and depression. Conservation work truly benefits us all. 

The impact of this program reaches every corner of our beautiful state, with 99% of Wisconsinites living within five miles of a Knowles-Nelson project. In Senate District 14 alone, over 800 projects have been funded by Knowles-Nelson grant dollars. Devil’s Lake State Park, Good Pond Sanctuary, Ice Age Trail, and Mirror Lake State Park are just some of the local places that have benefited. Through projects that improved and expanded opportunities for outdoor recreation, Knowles-Nelson has also been a boon for driving tourism and strengthening local economies. There is no question that this program makes our state better, which is why my Democratic colleagues and I authored Senate Bill 436 to renew Knowles-Nelson. Unfortunately, Republicans refused to pass a bill to save Knowles-Nelson, demonstrating that they were content to let this important, longstanding, and popular program die. 

Sadly, Knowles-Nelson is just one of many issues important to the public and to the success of our state which Republicans chose to not address this legislative session. Another is data centers. As more and more data center proposals have popped up, Wisconsinites have shared significant concerns about what these developments will mean for their communities, their utility bills, the environment, and wildlife. In response, my Democratic colleagues and I introduced Senate Bill 729, the Data Center Accountability Act. This bill would have established guardrails to ensure proper stewardship of natural resources, protections for utility ratepayers, and transparency and accountability to the public. Clearly, it is crucial that we create a responsible regulatory framework for data centers at the state level, but again, Republicans refused to pass a bill to do so.

Further, it is imperative that we get serious about our climate crisis. That starts with acknowledging that climate change is a real and urgent issue so we can begin to address it meaningfully. Earth is warming, resulting in the hotter temperatures and more extreme weather events like heavy rain and flooding that we have all experienced. It is easy to get overwhelmed by the sheer scale of this problem, but we can take actions locally to fight climate change and prepare for extreme weather. This session, I signed on to Senate Bill 854, a Democrat-authored bill to expand the duties of county conservation staff so that they may focus on climate change and climate change resiliency. The bill also provided funding to hire staff for this purpose. Folks working in county conservation roles have knowledge about the land and water resources in their area, which makes them great candidates to build climate resiliency and combat climate change locally. Sadly, SB 854 was never even given a public hearing under the Republican majority leadership. 

Although today’s issues weigh heavily on my heart and mind, they also fuel me to do more in service of others. I am motivated to learn more, focus on the abundant good in our communities more, and do more work to advance substantive, lasting change. Next session, I will remain committed to advancing these and other bills that will help us, our kids, and our environment be healthy and resilient for generations to come.  

Keyeski, D-Lodi, represents the 14th Senate District.