Climate change threatens our safety and the livelihoods of our communities due to natural disasters. For Delaware high schoolers like me, the urgency of the situation could not be more clear.
That’s why I’m glad that Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., is taking action. From his recent legislation to establish a Civilian Climate Corps to the FAIR Transition and Compensation Act, it is clear that meaningful solutions do exist.
Here in Delaware, the Civilian Climate Corps will create good-paying jobs and invest in the protection of our state’s most vulnerable communities. In doing so, we can develop much-needed resilience measures to help us mitigate the worst effects of the climate crisis.
Fully addressing climate change will also require holding other countries accountable for their pollution. For example, establishing a fee on imported pollution and incentivizing companies overseas to keep up with our domestic clean-energy progress could render significant emissions reductions. And when paired with a tool like carbon pricing to help lower U.S. emissions economywide, this approach would make a world of difference.
Although I am too young to vote, climate change will disproportionately affect my generation. Our leaders should confront the climate challenge by embracing an ambitious pathway forward.
Pearl Mallick
Middletown
