We’re All in this Together
Climate Solutions Beyond Your Backyard
Let’s Not Lose Our Snow
By Greta Holmes
I’m Greta Holmes, a student at Casco Bay High School.
I’ve lived in Maine my whole life. One of my favorite things about Maine is the snow that falls every winter. I remember walking to preschool when I was little and the snowbanks piled high above me on either side of the sidewalk. In elementary school, we’d dig tunnels through the snow and play in them all recess long.
I now do cross country skiing for my high school team. Every year we start out with “dryland” practice (before it snows) and then transfer to actual skiing when the snow falls. However, recently the dryland practice seems to come back, scattered throughout our actual season. Often, right after a great snowstorm, there will be rain, and all of the snow will melt away. This makes me realize how much the environment of Maine is changing because I know this didn’t used to happen.
I know a lot of other people of my generation are very frightened by climate change and have no idea what to do. It is terrifying to think that this part of the Maine we know could disappear in our lifetimes and wonder if our families will get to participate in this part of Maine life. It is even scarier to picture what else will have changed by then, changes we can’t even imagine.
Anxiety into action.
One thing that I have found to help turn my anxiety into action is Citizens’ Climate Lobby, a nationwide organization trying to pass legislation to stop climate change. While I’ve been an intern there, we’ve been trying to include a carbon fee and dividend into the reconciliation package or as a stand-alone bill.
What is a carbon fee and dividend?
A carbon fee and dividend would tax large fossil fuels companies and return the money to every individual. To solve the climate crisis, experts like those at the UN IPCC say this is a “necessary condition.” It is crucial to limit our fossil fuel consumption and make it harder for large corporations to make so much profit from these fuels that are destroying everything we need.
Please consider joining cclusa.org. Together we can make change… and keep the snow and everything else that we love.
Greta Holmes is a Citizens’ Climate Lobby (CCL) intern and a student at Casco Bay High School.
