Teens fighting climate change
As a rising high school junior, my mind is constantly consumed with worry over grades, college, learning to drive and preparing for debate tournaments.
But a new worry is overwhelming me: the deep fear I have for the future in which my family, my friends and I may face an impending ecological disaster.
I know I’m not alone in this — around the world millions of youth have organized to protest our right to a safe future.
Reading the news, I am constantly bombarded by reports telling me that we are reaching the point of no return. The earth is being destroyed by our greed, the plastic we consume, the pollution we create.
Enough is enough.
Many politicians fail to take responsibility. They refuse to believe 99% of scientists, or they understand the reports but refuse to act. They line their pockets with money from corporations that dump waste into our land and water.
They profit off of our destruction. So, what do we do? What can I do as a 15-year-old who can’t even vote yet? Our only option is to make our voices heard. Force ourselves into the conversation. Where adults have failed, youth are left with the responsibility to lead.
And we have already begun to mobilize: Incredible teenagers like Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg and Jamie Margolin, founder of Zero Hour, have guided the way, calling out our politicians, urging them to take the climate crisis seriously and to adopt environmental policy that will ensure a safe future. They have created a platform to uplift the voices of youth and marginalized communities who are already affected by climate change.
After reading the U.N. climate change report, which concluded that we only have 11 years left to reverse this disaster, and learning about the threat of commercial products on our ecosystem, I felt a need to become involved.
That’s the only way we can face this. Talking won’t solve this issue.
I discovered that my friend Aditi Narayanan was organizing with Brian Mecinas, Claire Nelson and several others. Together they founded a branch of Zero Hour, a climate justice organization led by youth, in Phoenix.
I soon joined, and we made the decision to join thousands of other students around the world to strike on March 15. We organized our rally at the Capitol, where youth, Arizona’s environmental organizations and local legislators discussed the need for our government to adequately respond to this crisis.
While our federal government is at a standstill, we’ve found local elected officials have been open to involvement. After March, state Sen. Juan Mendez and Phoenix Sustainability Officer Mark Hartman met with us to discuss how Arizona is addressing drought, heat and carbon emissions.
On May 17, we organized an Environmental Town Hall in Tempe where politicians discussed how they plan to support a sustainable future in Arizona and answered questions concerning our environment.
Now, at 5 p.m. June 3, we’ll be hosting a press conference and strike at Margaret T. Hance Park in Phoenix to support Juliana v. United States, where young people are suing the federal government for contributing to climate change.
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals will hear the case June 4.
We also will unveil our resolution June 3 to reduce Arizona’s carbon footprint.
Whether you’re a teenager or an adult, I ask that you join us, follow us on social media, or consider joining environmental organizations such as the Sierra Club or Sunrise Movement.
Fighting for a sustainable future is a battle that I am proud to be a part of. Though I am still afraid, I know that our actions are pushing Arizona to protect the health of our community and the beautiful planet we live on.