We’re All in this Together
Climate Solutions Beyond Your Backyard
By Thea Dugas
Being an 11-year-old living in Maine, with parents volunteering for climate action, it’s impossible to ignore climate change. Things I enjoy – skiing, picking blueberries, and swimming – are all at risk. So, when I think about climate change, I don’t think, “Oh, annoying paid people on the phone,” or “No problem, I never use plastic bags.” I think, “How can we act without losing momentum, and how can we agree on a solution?” Here’s what I have learned.
Citizens’ Climate Lobby (CCL) is what my parents volunteer for. CCL focuses on a carbon fee and dividend bill that charges a fee on fossil fuels at the source, then distributes the money as dividend checks to everyone. CCL volunteers meet with national members of Congress two to three times per year. In between lobby meetings, volunteers work on getting businesses to endorse, tabling at events, or writing letters to newspapers.
Citizens’ Climate Lobby Youth Challenge
CCL’s national youth director Sharon Bagatell posted a challenge for anyone under 18 to gather endorsements from businesses for this bill. I knew this would be a perfect chance for me, so I contacted friends, and soon I had a team!
We each did our share of emailing business leaders, walking into shops downtown, and presenting to many people. Just spreading the word among people we know helped a lot.
In the end, we won second place in the country. How did 9-12-year-olds working on their own win against high-schoolers who were working with an adult? It wasn’t hard or time-consuming; anyone could have done it. We all know climate action is important. So why don’t we all commit?
When people say I’m “passionate” about climate change, or that it’s up to young people to save the earth, I wonder, are you really trying? It doesn’t take much to act, to care, or to learn. Look around. Wouldn’t you like to stop being the bystander?
Go to cclusa.org/senate and cclusa.org/house to contact your senators and representatives. We know that right now is a great chance to get them to act on climate and these emails and calls really get their attention. Please take 30 seconds to contact them. If I can do it, so can you.
We’re All in this Together is a monthly Climate Justice column provided by the Portland chapter of Citizens’ Climate Lobby.
