by Lucinda Daniel
Recently, students across the globe have taken the issue of climate change from their classrooms to the streets. Previous generations who have set Earth on a dark climate path have left younger generations in charge of taking vital steps needed to save the planet from irreversible and devastating climate change.
In the past few weeks in San Diego specifically, students have organized and taken part in strikes demanding the city set a goal for net-zero emissions by 2030 rather than by 2045, as there is concern that the original goal date may be too late. On September 24th, students marched and flooded the streets of downtown San Diego to raise awareness of the world’s rapidly changing climate, and to protest reckless behavior of every-day civilians in addition to wealthy corporations.
As Greta Thunberg, the famous young Swedish environmental activist, has argued, “Adults keep saying we owe it to the young people, to give them hope, but I don’t want your hope. I don’t want you to be hopeful. I want you to panic. I want you to feel the fear I feel every day. I want you to act. I want you to act as you would in a crisis. I want you to act as if the house is on fire, because it is.”
These impactful words communicate the overall message of motivated youths around the world that lead nation-wide strikes from schools, universities, and workplaces. In San Diego alone, Climate Strikes San Diego has specific climate plans for the nation, the state, and local communities, and is one of many organizations that work hard to combat climate change.
During the September 24th strike, many activists carried signs which wrote, “Don’t frack our future,” and, “Science isn’t a conspiracy theory.” The signs are in response to Governor Gavin Newsom still issuing permits for oil drilling and fracking. Newsom has announced plans to stop giving these permits out by 2024, but has still issued hundreds of new oil well-drilling permits and dozens of new fracking permits this year.
The increased activism of today’s youth has opened the eyes of some in the previous generations who had not acknowledged the climate issue. If the trajectory of the Earth’s climate change continues to stay on course, repair of the environment will become less and less achievable. The planet is excruciatingly close to irreversible damage and cries for help are finally being heard. While there is still an incredible amount of work to be done, the younger generations are paving the way for a better future for all.
