This week and next From November 7th to the 18th, the world’s nations are gathering for the 23rd annual conference-of-the-parties (COP23) under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to stop climate change. The meeting will focus on methods and pathways to meet the Paris climate agreement goals.
President Donald Trump decided to pull the country out of the Paris climate agreement earlier this year. With Syria signing onto the Paris climate agreement as of November 7th, the United States of America is now the only nation not participating in the agreement.
There is undisputable evidence that climate change is happening and the root cause is human activity. This was reaffirmed at the beginning of November by 13 federal agencies in an exhaustive scientific report.
We have to take a stand in Idaho and let the world know that we the people are still in. That is why I am part of the Idaho Climate Justice League, a group of student leaders from local high schools that are dedicated to increasin awareness and building equitable solutions for the climate crisis. We are taking a stand this November to represent everything that is at risk, becuase if we do not act, the damage climate change will do both around the world and to our communities in Idaho is astounding.
We are calling on our community and Idaho’s leaders to join us and help build a climate legacy we can be proud of. We are asking students, teachers, families and leaders to join us at 11 am on Saturday, November 18th at the Idaho State Capitol for a Day of Dedication: Climate Legacy Time Capsule. We ask everyone to bring an item and help us fill the climate legacy time capsule with objects, pictures and letters that represent what we are fighting for.
CLIMATE LEGACY TIME CAPSULE
The capsule will be sent to Washington D.C. and will be opened in 50 years. The idea is that future generations will inherit our climate legacy. With this capsule being sealed until 2067, we have the opportunity to represent what we were doing to fight climate change. How will we be remembered?
As part of the Day of Dedication, we are also asking each of our state leaders to sign a letter committing to revise the science standards to require lessons on climate change caused by human behavior be included statewide.
As a first step to confront the reality of climate change, Idaho needs to take proactive steps to reverse the least adequate state science standards in the country with regard to climate change. Our leaders have to ensure students around that state have equal access to information by protecting students’ rights to learn about climate change and preparing them to face one of the biggest challenges of our time.
On Saturday, we will take a stand for Idaho’s role in solving the climate crisis by ensuring we are remembered for doing everything in our power to fight for the people and places we love. Join us.
Kimberly Flynn
Senior, Borah High School
Learn more about the Idaho Climate Justice League: https://www.sierraclub.org/idaho/climate-justice-league