Why We Must Lead the Charge on Climate Change
Jefferson Graduate Sustainability Network president explains the purpose of the Sept. 26 climate strike on campus.
The University community assembled on East Falls Campus as part of the Global Climate Strike.
On Sept. 20, over 4 million people worldwide took to the streets and mobilized for the largest climate strike in history. Led by Sweden’s 16-year-old Greta Thunberg, the week-long strike runs until Sept. 27, but our concern over climate change will last all our lives.
The climate strike marks the beginning of a new era, says sustainable design student Hayden Remick.
The Jefferson Graduate Sustainability Network organized the Global Climate Strike on our campus on Sept. 26 because we want to help all faculty, staff and, especially, students become engaged in discussion and action on the problem of climate change.
We’re a small piece of the strike, but we must contribute to making a difference here in our community. We’re running out of time to stop the most damaging effects of climate change. Youth all over the world are deeply concerned about what’s happening to our environment, and they’re speaking out. Young people here at Jefferson need to stand up to make their voices heard as well. Taking part in this unifying show of strength is a wonderful thing. Jefferson is a large university focused on human health, and as such, we have a responsibility to do everything we can to preserve our planet.
Our goal is to engage the University community and create a network for people to become—and remain—involved in future climate activism.
Most people I know worry about the future of the climate, and yet, they don’t quite know what to do about it. Our strike was one step in increasing our engagement with the student body, and hopefully, we will help people make changes in their lives. We provided information on how students can fight climate change and have a meaningful impact on the world—by talking and doing something about it.
We offered resources for voter registration, a personal carbon footprint calculator, details about campus environmental sustainability, a raffle and many other fun activities. Our goal is to engage the University community and create a network for people to become—and remain—involved in future climate activism.
We hope this event strengthened our sustainable ties, but this strike only marks the beginning of a new era in the climate movement. The future of all living things depends on how we handle this growing crisis.
Hayden Remick ’20 is an MS in sustainable design student and president of the Jefferson Graduate Sustainability Network.
