Climate action needs adults in power
By: Brea Mace
Over the past decade, the Earth’s average surface temperature has increased about 0.3*F compared to the 1981-2010 baseline. NASA and NOAA data shows that July 2023 was one of the hottest months ever recorded, with temperatures up to 4.5*F, above pre-industrial averages in some regions. Earth is not slowly warming; it’s hitting new extremes every year. Gen Z is disproportionately carrying the personal and emotional burden of the climate crisis, and our leaders should be taking stronger, concrete action on climate policy to address the concerns young people have been fighting for.
Fridays For Futures (FFF) is a youth-led climate movement that started on August 20, 2018 by Greta Thunberg. FFF’s main goal is to raise awareness about climate change and how young people can make a change in their future for the better.
While movements like Fridays For Futures have successfully brought global attention to the climate crisis, young people cannot fix this problem alone. Students can strike, protest, and spread awareness, but they do not hold the power to pass laws or regulate corporations. That responsibility lies with adults currently in positions of power.
Many politicians continue to delay meaningful climate action, prioritizing short term economic gains over long term environmental stability. Fossil fuel companies still receive government subsidies, even as they contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions.
For Gen Z, climate change isn’t a distant issue. From record breaking heat waves to wildfires, floods, and droughts, the consequences of inaction are becoming impossible to ignore. Adults in power must listen to the voices of young activists and take decisive action now. This includes investing in renewable energy, enforcing stricter environment regulations, and committing to science based climate goals.
The future should not rest fully on the shoulders of teens skipping school to protest. Movements like FFF have done their part by demanding attention, but attention alone is not enough. The people in power need to stop delaying action and start making decisions that prioritize the future. Climate change will not wait, and neither should the people who have the ability to fix it and reverse the effects that have already happened.
To join or find out more about Fridays For Futures, visit this website for information about the movement and how to participate.
