Climate Change Starts With Us

By Mena Sarkissian 

On behalf of Repertory, I attended an NYC public high school climate action planning event at Brooklyn Tech High School. The event began with a slideshow about the science behind climate change to ensure that all students were on the same page. After lunch, we were able to walk up to various tables representing organizations that give high school students chances to get involved in climate action. Later, I will go in depth about what those organizations are and how you too can get involved. Then, we went into workshops going more in depth about specific topics. The workshop I went to was called Exploring Alternative Energy. Last, we planned what we wanted to do with our schools for the climate action days. So, what does all of this mean for Repertory? 

Climate action days are designated days set by the DOE with the purpose of spreading awareness about climate change related topics in fun and engaging ways. Two of those days have already passed, which were the topics waste and energy. The upcoming days are Health, Wellness, and Green Space on April 9th, and Water on May 21st. Through the help of the National Honors Society, Repertory can and should participate in these upcoming climate action days. Whether we like it or not, climate change is something that our generation is going to have to deal with the effects of. Ensuring that our school body is environmentally conscious is one way we can be a part of the fight against climate change.

There are also many ways to get involved in climate justice outside of Rep. An example of an organization you can be a part of is Treeage. Treeage is a student-led organization committed to fighting for more sustainable environmental policy in the state of New York. They host many events that happen around the city and the state, including the annual Albany Youth Day of Action that happens in March. I went this year on March 5th, and they took us on a free trip to the state capital where students are able to meet with representatives, rally, and more. Another organization worth looking into is Fridays for Future, which was founded by Greta Thunberg. There are two simple ways to get involved in Fridays for Future, which are either becoming a member or becoming a school ambassador. Becoming a member involves a weekly commitment, which may be done online, in person, or even strikes at city hall on Fridays after school. If you want less of a commitment, becoming a School Ambassador might be good to consider. All of this information and more can be found on their website, which I will link below as well. 

As you can see, being a NYC student gives you various opportunities to get involved in the world of climate justice. 

Treeage: https://www.treeageteam.org/ 

Fridays for Future: https://fridaysforfuture.org/