We talked about a lot of different policy areas this election cycle. We talked about race and policing. We talked about gender. We talked about immigration and trade. We talked about job creation and the economy. We talked about sexual assault and corruption and rigged elections and the media and healthcare.
But we didn’t talk about the only issue that’s going to matter at the end of the day.
We didn’t talk about climate change—at least, not in a serious, substantive way, since the primaries ended.
Instead, when we talked about climate change, it was because one of the major candidates said he thought that it was a conspiracy made up by China, and Hillary Clinton had to remind him of that.
The candidates brought up the unfortunate myth of clean coal and have continually praised fossil fuels.
Here’s the simple truth. When fossil fuels (like coal, natural gas or oil) burn, they combust and create carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide holds energy as heat.
When that carbon dioxide is in the atmosphere, it traps heat in the atmosphere. It makes Earth’s atmosphere warmer. While not every corner of the globe will feel “warmer,” the climate of the entire planet will shift and change—because the atmospheric system that creates our weather and long-term climate will continue to absorb and hold more heat energy.
Climate change, already a catastrophic force on this planet, will continue to wreak havoc on our planet, ecosystems and societies. And we aren’t talking about it.
We’re burying our heads in the sand and pretending the economy will matter when the sea level rises and washes out coastal town and cities. We’re pretending trade agreements will matter when millions of refugees have to flee their nations because of drought and famine.
Yes, terrorism is a real threat. Yes, crime is a problem. Yes, we need to fix health care in the United States. But none of these issues will fundamentally change our lives. Climate change, on the other hand, by changing global patterns of weather and by changing the shape of our oceans, lakes and rivers, poses the only existential threat to humanity that we have any sort of power to impact.
But, instead of seriously discussing how to mitigate climate change, instead of discussing steps we should all be taking every. single. day. to help keep our climate from catching us all off guard and, y’know, fundamentally altering our very way of life.
Of the eligible voters in this country, I, as a 21-year-old, am one of the ones that will have to live with our changing climate for the longest. It’s the most important issue to me and, frankly, the only one that I think matters.
But when I bring it up, I’m told that there are more pressing issues. That we can talk about climate later. That adjusting our lives because of climate change is bad for the economy.
I’m tired of it. I can’t take it. I can’t stand the fact that we ignore climate change.
We’re at a critical juncture where we can act to change things. We can reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and produce less waste.
Instead, we keep consuming and living like we’re not barreling toward our own, self-inflicted demise.
I won’t stand for it. And I’m going to keep pushing environmental protection and climate mitigation so long as I have a voice or a pen.