Newark Charter

Youth Climate Action

Our Planet  

The world we live in today is facing a huge crisis. Climate change. We’ve all heard it and acknowledged it but choose to still do nothing about it. Rising sea levels, more intense hurricanes, and record-breaking temperatures are just some of the symptoms of this global threat. As a 15 year-old girl who could be doing so many other things rather than worry about this, it has gotten to a point where I can no longer ignore the reality of what is happening.  If our older generations keep destroying our planet I can’t help but think, what would be left for us? I cannot just sit back and watch this happen, that’s why I feel like I need to advocate for change, and help heal our planet. 

 Delaware, a small state, where I live, is just one of many states and countries that are affected by climate change. Within the United States, Delaware has the 2nd most lowest elevation out of all the states, at it being 60 feet below sea level. According to the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, sea levels have risen by more than a foot over the past century, and could rise by another 1.5 feet by 2050. This could cause devastating flooding, erosion, and damage to infrastructure, homes, and businesses.

But it’s not just Delaware that is at risk. Climate change is a global problem that affects every corner of the planet. In the past year alone, the world has seen a record-breaking number of natural disasters, including wildfires, floods, and hurricanes, that have caused billions of dollars in damages and claimed countless lives. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reports that in 2020, there were 22 weather and climate disasters in the United States alone that caused more than $1 billion in damages each.

Let me make this clear, climate change is caused by human activity, specifically the burning of fossil fuels and the release of greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change warns that if we don’t take immediate and drastic action to reduce our carbon emissions, we could see catastrophic consequences, including more extreme weather events, sea level rise, and irreversible damage to our ecosystems. 

So, what can we do about it? As young people, we have a unique role to play in this fight. We are the ones who will inherit the consequences of our actions, and it is our future that is at stake. We must use our voices to demand action from our politicians, governors, and our president, to make laws, bills, acts or whatever they can do to help protect our planet. 

But we can also take action ourselves. We can make small changes in our daily lives, such as using reusable bags and water bottles, eating less meat, and reducing our energy consumption. We can educate ourselves and others about the science of climate change, and advocate for solutions that are evidence-based and effective. And we can support and engage in climate activism, such as participating in strikes and protests, writing to our representatives, and using social media to spread awareness.

In the end, it’s up to all of us to work together to tackle this global crisis. We must all take collaborative action, come up with innovative creative solutions, and advocate for our own future. We cannot afford to sit back and watch our world burn. We have to act now, with urgency and determination, to create a sustainable world for ourselves and for our future selves as well as for generations to come. This is our plant, our earth, our home. We only get one of it so let’s not destroy it.