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This opinion piece was originally published in Elkhart High School’s The Pennant
In late January, dozens of teens and climate activists gathered at the Indiana Statehouse for the “Time’s Up!” event in order to address the climate crisis and encourage the passing of Senate Bill 255 and Senate Concurrent Resolution 3.
“Time’s Up!” was organized by “Confront the Climate Crisis,” a statewide organization created by concerned Hoosier teens. Various guest speakers, including Sens. Ron Alting (J.D. FadyQaddoura, Ford, and many other concerned citizens gathered to discuss the need to make the state a better place for all.
Since the beginning of time, climate change has been a major issue in Indiana and around the world. That’s why it is so critical that bills such as SB 255 are being worked on and initiated—especially since there has been so little progress made in recent years.
“Our ecosystems are shrinking while our earth is warming, and the last seven years on this planet were the hottest seven years ever on record,” said Notre Dame graduate and environmentalist Elsa Barron. “It’s clear that when it comes to our responsibility for stewardship, we are currently failing at the task before us.”
According to a survey done by the Pew Research CenterAmericans are seeing the effects of climate changes in their communities more often, and nearly two-thirds of Americans believe that the government must do more to address it.
Another important point was raised at the rally was how this legislation (SB255 and SCR-3) would help Indiana be more environmentally sound. Both bills were written by numerous high school students who belong to “Confront the Climate Crisis!” but officially authored by Sen. Alting.
“Grassroots still work in this country…Nothing is more important than the air that we breathe and the water we drink,” he told rally participants.
Alting and other speakers stressed the importance of sustainability and the fight for change, and encouraged citizens to become more involved — which is exactly what these bills would do.
SB 255 called for Indiana to establish a task force that will be in charge of developing a climate action plan that will not only enhance statewide economic development but also systemically diminish Indiana’s role in the climate crisis. The bill required the utility regulatory board to prepare a report to forecast and monitor the amount of greenhouse gas emissions Indiana utilities companies would produce each year between 2022 and 2050.
SCR-3The Indiana General Assembly was asked to recognize that climate change is a serious and prominent problem. Moreover, it asked the assembly to acknowledge “that Indiana’s response to climate change should seek to capitalize on economic development that will combat ‘brain drain,’ achieve better workforce development, enhance quality of place, and create jobs for all Hoosiers.”
Senator Mark Messmer, chairman of the Senate Environmental Affairs Committee denied giving Senate Legislation a listening. Later, Messmer made a statement. IndyStar he believes that “the task force bill was redundant because those issues could be addressed in an interim committee or through the 21st Century Energy Policy Task Force.”
However, this statement is not true. The task force has not made similar plans regarding the Senate Bill.
Both bills would have been a positive step towards improving Indiana’s communities and helping them become more ecofriendly. However, both speakers stressed the importance and necessity of advocacy for both teens and adults.
“Changing the world doesn’t mean changing the globe… One of the main reasons that youth activism is so crucial is because we are the leaders of tomorrow,” said Claire Curran, a sophomore at Brebeuf High School.
This event and campaign was led by Indiana teens — proving that age does not play a factor in whether or not a person can make an impact. Youth activism is just a as important as advocacy for adults. Curran stated that the leaders of tomorrow will be the youth of today. Eventually, today’s youth will be the legislators and scientists who will deal with big issues like climate change, so getting involved and becoming informed at a young age is vital.
Jonathan Siskind, a West Lafayette Jr./Sr. senior, is another Hoosier teenager. High School, said, “We are the first generation to feel the impacts of climate change, and we’re the last generation that can do anything to stop it…The best way for us people here at the statehouse and around the world to hear the cries that we’re making today is by organizing, rallying, and showing that we care that this is the kind of issue that we not only vote on, but act on.”
Both Curran as well as Siskind contributed to the fight against climate change, but they weren’t alone. It is crucial to advocate. Only through the actions and words that others make a difference in the world can a change be made. Making a petition, starting an environmental club at school, or even attending a rally like “Time’s Up!” can contribute to immense change. Even small actions can have huge impacts. Getting involved in issues like climate change can make a big difference.
Although climate change continues to be a problem around the world, it is remarkable to see so many Hoosiers join forces to support bills like SB 255 or SCR-3. Both teenagers and senators have immense power to influence others, and make the world a better.
The “Time’s Up!” rally is one of many examples of the extraordinary ways that people have started to take action and become part of the fight to help protect the climate.
“Action is the solution,” Siskind said. “While our campaign is called ‘Confront the Climate Crisis,’ the real crisis is not climate change, it’s not environmental destruction, or the sixth mass extinction—the real crisis is inaction…and the only way to solve the crisis of inaction is action.”
