Guest Commentary: Winning essays ‘RENEW’ hope in environmental progress

Students who participated I the Delaware Interfaith Power & Light RENEW 2023 Essay Contest were recognized at Legislative Hall last month. Back: Randi Johnson, Mary Lou Mayer, Bill Keenan, Sunmeet Sethi, Tonyea Mead, Middle: Danielle Keenan, Kaitlyn Mayer, Haasini Potluri, Jon Dong, Front: Ayomipo Adeojo, Lisa Locke, Raina Lakhani, Rep. Eric Morrison, Rep. Sophie Phillips, Charanjeet Singh Minhas

Submitted photo/Delaware House Democratic Caucus

These high school students took the time to write about climate action, environmental justice and the web of life in nature. Their knowledge of what is happening and what we can do was clearly evident in their writings.”

Dr. Randi Johnson is the president of Delaware Interfaith Power & Light and a resident of Frankford.

July 2-8 was the hottest week on record. The Canadian wildfire season is record-breaking and resulted in poor air quality for us in Delaware. Climate change is upon us.

Fourteen years ago, when I was assigned a climate change program, we thought the current conditions were some time off (maybe the 2030s?). Unfortunately, we were wrong; the adverse impacts of a changing climate are upon us now and will continue to worsen. Living in coastal Delaware, I see up close the impacts of rising sea levels and increased flooding and storm events on our beaches and ecosystems. The agricultural sector is also adversely impacted by increased heat and more extreme events. We can no longer ignore the impacts of human-induced climate change.

What kind of world am I leaving my daughter and grandsons? Is there no hope?

While the situation is dire, there is still hope. One place I see hope is in the younger generation, and specifically, I saw it in the high schoolers who took part in the RENEW 2023 Essay Contest put on by Delaware Interfaith Power & Light (delawareipl.org/dev/competition). These high school students took the time to write about climate action, environmental justice and the web of life in nature. Their knowledge of what is happening and what we can do was clearly evident in their writings. Ten of the contestants received awards, with Raina Lakhani taking first place, Sudip Chowdhury second and Sidrisha Sarbajna third. Seven others received awards as honorable mentions. Many thanks to Tekstrom Inc. for supporting this competition.

Resolutions recognizing these students were presented in both the House of Representatives and Senate of the Delaware state legislature June 27. It was an honor to see our state leaders recognize these students and acknowledge the need to address climate change. Later that day, important legislation was passed that put actions to their words.

There is hope!

Slowly, society is acknowledging that we must change, and that change must come from everyone. As with most large-scale changes, we must change the heart of society, and I see that happening in our younger generations; these essays are a bright example. Government is slowly working to regulate and incentivize the actions needed to reduce our carbon footprint and work with those most impacted by the adverse effects of climate change.

Delaware Interfaith Power & Light recognizes that all faiths acknowledge the need to care for our planet and its people, especially marginalized people. The students participating in the RENEW Essay Contest gave me hope that our vision will be in good hands.