I recently wrote a post commending and admiring the work that youth all over Massachusetts have done in order to shed light on climate change and to call for action to address it. When it comes to climate change action, the youth of Massachusetts are doing their part in spreading knowledge and creating a strong voice. Unfortunately, Massachusetts DEP does not seem interested in taking the opportunity to work with, or seriously respond to, the youth in their fight for climate action.

Students from the Boston Latin School who are members of Youth Climate Action Network recently spoke to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection. These students, along with Boston College Law students, demonstrated their concern for our futures by creating a petition asking DEP to do more. Mass DEP was required to respond after the hearing. DEP said that they agree with the students’ statements and requests, and said that they were already working on the proposed actions. But the petition was created in order to get DEP to address global warming more aggressively, as needed and required. DEP, rather than admit what they could and should be working on, suggest that they are already doing enough – ignoring that the work they are doing falls short of what the students are asking and what DEP is required to do. DEP’s response embodies an attitude that needs to change in order to address climate change effectively.

It is very discouraging to see the Kids vs. Global Warming petition being taken lightly by the DEP. The Kids vs. Global Warming climate action in Massachusetts was an eye-opener, it allowed for me to see what some climate change fighters looked like.  It was discouraging that on the seldom recent occasion where youth have had the opportunity to speak directly to their government; Mass DEP chose to ignore their request for action. But this fight is not over. Please join CLF in making sure that youth voices are heard by Massachusetts DEP and other government officials in the fight for climate action.

Climate change has made many people concerned for their future. As we see more climate change impacts –such as intense storms, frequent flooding and extreme temperatures – more and more people want to take action to protect their future. There is no question that support for climate action has grown. And even more interesting is the age of many people involved in the growing climate action force.  In addition to the many environmental organizations and groups, many youth have taken a strong lead in the fight for climate change action.

I recently attended a Kids vs. Global Warming hearing at the Mass Department of Environmental Protection and got a good picture of what passionate youth concerned about climate change looked like. Thirteen and fourteen year olds concerned about their future put the climate change issue front and center. The students were well educated in climate change science and had a clear plan for what Mass DEP needs to do in order to protect their future.  As I wrote in an earlier post, the students are calling on DEP to issue regulations under the MA Global Warming Solutions Act. In particular, the petition calls on DEP to “Publish the delinquent rules expressly required by Mass. General Laws Chapter 21N Section 3(d) establishing declining levels of annual aggregate emissions rates as mandated by that law.”

And the “Kids” who brought a petition to Mass DEP are not alone. In addition to the Boston Latin School Youth Climate Action Network, which was involved in the DEP petition, many other Boston high schools have followed Boston Latin’s lead by creating Youth CAN groups in their schools. College students have joined the fight for climate action too. For example, Williams College and Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts students, among others, rallied in February in front of the White House to ask for action in addressing climate change. In addition, many youth are seizing the opportunity this summer to participate in a symbolic walk to call for a transition from coal to wind. Starting August 28,^th young adults will join Better Future Project to march from the Brayton Point coal plant to Cape Cod to bring attention to the opportunity to move away from dirty coal and replace it with clean energy like offshore wind.

As youth fight for their future, climate change takes on an additional profound meaning.  The youth understand all too well the huge impacts that climate change could have if not addressed. Youth all over Massachusetts have recognized the harm that comes from climate change and are asking government officials for action. They understand that what is at stake is their future, and ours. I am proud to be working alongside other motivated youth as we bring attention to climate change action. Committed youth fighting climate change give me hope for the future.

A Boston Latin School student calling on MA DEP to ‘connect the dots’ and take climate action.

“If the government’s action to address global warming were a basketball game, they are playing like it’s the first quarter when in reality there are only a few seconds left on the clock.” A well put simile stated by Eshe Sherley in her video that started the KIDS vs. Global Warming Petition public hearing at Mass DEP last week. On Thursday June 13, young students from the Boston Latin School who are members of Youth Climate Action Network spoke to Massachusetts DEP and asked the agency to do more. These students along with two Boston College Law students demonstrated that they are concerned for our futures by creating a petition asking DEP to do what it is supposed to do.

“Connect the dots” is what one student from Boston Latin School asked DEP to do. He and many other frustrated students and environmental organizations are asking DEP to change its attitude towards global warming and step up its game. In the hearing the students listed out particular environmental projects that they want DEP to take on, from reducing carbon emissions to making environmental initiatives in Massachusetts transparent and user friendly for the public. These students also listed out activities that they have led and demonstrated how they have made a difference in their school. For example, these students implemented water bottle filling stations in their school, and even created a “Green Day” – a  day where students tried to be green as possible.  Raffle tickets were given to students who traveled to school by taking public transportation, biking, walking or carpooling. These students demonstrated how they made a difference in their school community and wanted to encourage their government to do the same for Massachusetts.

The students are calling on DEP to issue regulations under the MA Global Warming Solutions Act. In particular, the petition calls on DEP to “Publish the delinquent rules expressly required by Mass. General Laws Chapter 21N Section 3(d) establishing declining levels of annual aggregate emissions rates as mandated by that law.” In response to the student’s demands, DEP gave a presentation on what the DEP has done and is working on.  But DEP’s actions fall far short of what it is required to do, frustrating the students, environmental organizations and others in the room. The students hope their petition will light a fire under DEP to respond with a sense of urgency and help create a healthier environment. CLF and many others stand with the students in calling on DEP to get the job done now.

Shanice Wallace is a Posse Scholar working at CLF as a summer intern. 

As more people are aware and involved in addressing environmental issues, the fight for a greener Boston becomes a shared Bostonian concern. Mayor Menino soon will be leaving Boston after 20 years. More than my entire lifetime!  During that time, he has done a lot to turn Beantown into Greentown, as he likes to say. Now, Boston has the opportunity to build on existing programs to reduce our environmental impact and become a greener city. Boston’s next mayor will have the opportunity to lead the next phase of Boston’s environmental revolution. The new mayor must take this opportunity to improve our neighborhoods by addressing climate change, clean energy and the environment.

Please save the date and plan to join Conservation Law Foundation and other environmental, clean energy, sustainability and innovation leaders for a Boston Mayoral Candidates Forum on Energy, the Environment and the Innovation Economy on July 9th at 12 pm at Suffolk University Law School. At this forum, the mayoral candidates will be given a chance explore a variety of topics related to community, development, jobs, sustainability, and livability in our city.