By Rochelle Younan-Montgomery | December 16, 2014
On December 15th, 2014, former ACE Senior Fellow Pablo Gomez was invited to speak alongside Governor Jerry Brown and other influential leaders at NextGen Climate America's California Climate Leadership Forum. The event laid out the pathway for continuing California’s success in addressing climate change, and Pablo called out one key piece in solving this crisis: youth participation. He said:
Right now, government is viewed by young people as very imposing and exclusive. But it doesn’t have to be that way. It takes the actions of those in government to open their doors and give access to young people. In your time and mine, young people have imagined countless innovations of art, science, music, technology. Why not government? We know that when it comes to climate change, radically different futures stem from the action, or inaction we take today. Why not give a head start at this solution to the future leaders of our state?
Mic drop (Okay, not really. But that’s how it felt).
Pablo’s voice was clear and direct - youth leadership is key to addressing climate change here in California. His voice is being joined by a chorus of youth voices across the country that are demanding concrete action. He is part of a movement of educated and empowered students who are not afraid to dream big and challenge those in positions of power to take the implications of climate change seriously.
Governor Brown highlighted the need to convey the scientific consensus to a largely skeptical American population. He said we are accelerating change that can’t be turned off with the flip of a switch and this crisis will require significant change on a global level.
A representative from the American Lung Association was also present, stating that 80% of CA’s population live in areas with poor air quality. In fact, 25% of Oakland’s population suffers from asthma, contributing to a life expectancy that is 12% shorter than the average. 61% of CA’s population are people of color, and we know that climate change affects these folks at a disproportionate rate. It’s clear that the environmental movement needs to connect the issue of climate change to the everyday experiences of real people throughout our state, particularly youth of color.
As Pablo so eloquently stated, Young people make up 20% of our state’s population. It is a large demographic with game-changing potential. See, we live in a special set of circumstances that sets us apart from previous generations: we do not have the luxury of sticking to the status quo. We cannot afford inaction. It is with this sense of urgency that we work on climate, to find long-lasting solutions and innovation in our everyday lives that can lead to a more sustainable future.
If you had the chance to speak to an audience of influential policy makers, business leaders and community members, what would you say?
Want to learn more about the forum? Check out this video by ABC 7 News highlighting the event.
Rochelle Younan-Montgomery is the Associate Program Director for ACE’s California team. She has presented to 90,000 students in Southern California since 2011 and trained hundreds of students in public speaking, climate science, and campaign planning. Rochelle loves to spend time outdoors, indulge in spicy pickled things, and cuddle with her puppy Olive.