Teens speak up on climate change

This year, young climate activists have become more outspoken. Greta Thunberg, a teenage advocate from Sweden, recently made headlines worldwide when she sailed from Sweden to New York City in a boat that produced zero carbon emissions. Thunberg also gave a speech at the United Nations, where she called on world leaders to take action for climate change. This week, Time Magazine announced her as their Person of the Year.

“People are suffering. People are dying. Entire ecosystems are collapsing. We are in the beginning of a mass extinction,” Thunberg said in the speech.

She also led climate strikes worldwide and started the movement Fridays for Future. As part of the movement, students walk out of their schools to bring awareness to the climate crisis.

Mari Copeny, also known as Little Miss Flint, is a twelve year old climate activist from Flint, Michigan. She wrote to President Obama about the water crisis in her city, which helped bring national attention to the Flint water crisis and convinced Obama to send $100 million in federal aid.

She has been actively involved in climate movements this year.

“No, our fight to save the planet didn’t start today with the #ClimateStrike and it doesn’t end today either,” Copeny tweeted. “Many of us have been putting in the work for years to save our planet. Don’t just amplify our voices today, but every day and support our solutions to save us.”

Students, like sophomore Kathryn Leaumont, share similar sentiments.

“I think that activism is important,” Leaumont said. “We need to be educated to combat climate change. We can’t just say ‘fix climate change’ and expect to find a solution waiting for us. We have to make our own solution.”