Even after the Earth Day celebrations ended in classrooms, parents still want to keep the discussions of climate change going. A new national poll from NPR shows that 84 percent of parents want climate change as part of the curriculum, and for educators to teach children how human activity is shaping our Earth. Without proper awareness about these issues, our younger generation will continue to treat the Earth as if it's disposable, but that is not the case.
"Young people today often live in a bubble: they don’t realize global issues that aren’t affecting them directly," says Arjun Marwaha, the 17-year-old author of Our Changing Earth: Why Climate Change Matters to Young People. "What they don’t realize is these destructive climatic effects are affecting them, even if they won’t see the ramifications for another 10 or 20 years."
Marwaha's book can serve as a blueprint to introduce young people to these issues of climate change.
I had a chance to interview Marwaha to learn more.
How did you get interested in the issue of climate change?
The weather has always appealed to me ever since I was a little kid. I was the subject of many family jokes for religiously reading the weather section of the newspaper and then watching the Weather Channel instead of cartoons. I was intrigued by the seasonal patterns of weather; when I heard about the wildfires that began to tear apart my state of California, however, I quickly learned of climate change and its devastating threats. This caused me to thoroughly research and inform myself of climate change, which ultimately reversed roles and I took on the role of an educator and author for my peers.
Why is it so important for people of all ages to get involved?
Climate change will affect everyone, and if not them directly it will be their children and further descendants. Increased storms, higher temperatures, more air pollution, and augmentation of disease frequency are some of several consequences that human lives will have to overcome. Beyond the scope of humans, biodiversity is declining at an unprecedented rate. It’s up to people of all ages to save our planet Earth especially in light of the inaction in our government. We must remember that we are fighting for ALL life on the planet, because we can all play a role whether it is political protests or practicing a green lifestyle.
What are ways that people can make a difference even before they're adults?
Using the power of the human voice and making slight changes in their daily lifestyle can significantly contribute to a difference in the climate change issue. Moreover, raising awareness via social media platforms are crucial in allowing the issue of climate change to enter the domain of teenage life. The most important difference people can make prior to reaching adulthood is to ensure they are well-informed not only at the global scale but also to stay vigilant of local event updates. Common practices such as rejecting the usage of plastic, choosing to reuse and recycle paper and glass, and cutting emissions from automobiles are important; with every individual hell-bent on breaking the status quo, we can further promote and build the youth climate movement.
ARJUN MARWAHA, 17, is currently a junior at Fairmount Preparatory Academy His debut book, Our Changing Earth: Why Climate Change Matters to Young People is available now on Amazon. You can learn more about Marwaha on his website and Instagram.
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