Changing future starts with changing education

As a junior at San Marin High school in Novato, I feel obligated to voice my opinion in response to Mark Phillips’ recent Marin Voice commentary (“There is urgency to teaching our teens about climate crisis,” Oct. 11). Believe me when I tell you that most of us are not clueless when it comes to climate change.

Every single time I have been able to choose a topic for a school project, I always go for climate change. I have researched stricter green legislation, icecaps, palm oil farming and fossil fuel tycoons. I can speak somewhat fluently on these topics because I chose to learn about them. That’s the problem. Teaching an entire generation about climate change should be part of the curriculum.

Our politicians tend to preach about climate change. They talk about things like netzero carbon emissions by 2040 and tax deductions for solarpowered homes. They repeat sayings we have heard since we gained consciousness. But they are just sayings in a reelection campaign. It feels like a way to gain sympathy points from voters, like one giant facade. Such speeches grow tiresome and depressing. Political stunts like these only solidify my belief that all politicians are fake, scared entertainers filled with empty promises.

If anyone in power truly cared about my generation and our planet, they would stop playing political charades and introduce some real, immediate solutions. One of the best things our country can do right now is mandate lessons on humancaused climate issues. I also think it is important to learn how we can remain hopeful.

A good start would be seeing some real substance presented by our country’s leaders. I am not talking about predictions or compromises. Give me a change I can see. Give me a reason to be hopeful. Show me that we can beat this, and then teach me how.

— Jackson Berry, Novato