Everywhere I’ve lived I have experienced the effects of climate change. In Maryland, each summer felt thicker with humidity and torrential thunderstorms caused floods that eventually broke roads in half. In Minnesota, each winter was longer than the last and an unprecedented cold meant that being outside for more than five minutes would cause permanent frostbite damage to the body. In Egypt, a flood reminiscent of ancient legends shut down the desert city not built for even a light rainstorm. Finally, in Colorado, I’ve seen the world turn sepia-toned while I shut my windows to protect my lungs from the smoke that filled the air.
All this to say the world needs a drastic change to our environmental policies and Colorado should lead the way. Climate change is not a future issue, as we were told in the 1990s. Climate change is happening now, and our reluctance to address it has left us in the midst of the current climate crisis.
It is time to listen to young activists who call for the Green New Deal. It is time to listen to Native knowledge about the land and return sovereignty to the people who know it best. We do not have the time to make small policy changes. We need to take real, tangible action to save our planet.
This coming legislative session, Colorado legislators should pay attention to the young folks who voted for them and take the necessary steps to preserve the earth for generations to come.
Sylvia DeyoDurango
