On Friday September 20th, all around the world, millions of teens and young adults flooded to their streets to demand action in regards to climate change. Chants of “You had a future, and so should we,” rung out as they marched along the streets. Never has a youth movement spanned so far, reaching across every culture, society, class rank, all united over a common goal. Climate change is a concern that everyone around the world, across all geographic locations, can connect to. This issue leaves us vulnerable to impacts such as droughts, heat waves, extreme weather events (such as the devastating forest fires happening in multiple countries across the globe), rising sea-levels, and floods.
IMAGE CREDIT: NY Times
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/20/climate/global-climate-strike.html
These young activists are not treating this massive movement as an end goal, but are instead hoping that it acts as “a catalyst for future mobilization,” so says Azalea Danes of New York City. They know that continuous action is necessary to turn a worldwide movement into concentrated political pressure, changing the minds of government decision makers who are not convinced that it is a problem worth voting to solve.
Climate change is a very big issue in the United States as this country has produced more greenhouse gas emissions than any other country dating back to the beginning of the industrial age. (New York Times). The problem of climate change is one that can be fixed if country leaders were willing to try. There are so many clean energy options available that coal (the leading cause of co2 emissions) could become nearly unnecessary. Not only is renewable energy good for the earth, it also has economic benefits. The renewable energy sector is a growing job
field, with job creation opportunities available. Reducing energy costs can also save on the cost of energy bills for customers from residential to industrial. On a national level, increasing the amount of renewable energy in the U.S. mix could further reduce reliance on foreign oil. Plus, renewable energy resources don’t run out, so the country could count on that independence over the long term.
IMAGE CREDIT: Giphy
Although not an overnight solution, real steps can be made to solve climate change before we reach the point of no return. What is necessary is the willingness of government leaders and major corporations to listen and care about the issue. On the Monday following these strikes, world leaders are set to assemble at United Nations to discuss what they are willing to do to avert a further climate crisis.
IMAGE CREDIT: Giphy
HCXO,
Megan
Sources
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/20/climate/global-climate-strike.html
https://www.conservation.org/stories/11-climate-change-facts-you-need-to-know