On Earth Day, youth hosted a webinar featuring six San Mateo County organizations promoting climate action.
«Youth for Climate Policy» ?Youth for climate policy? was carried out with the aim of showing adolescents how they can effectively influence local government leaders to combat climate change.
The event was presented by Sustainable San Mateo County and co-sponsored by 350 Silicon Valley, Silicon Valley Youth Climate Action, Acterra, Citizens? Climate Lobby and Peninsula Clean Energy.
The seminar featured former mayors of local cities who gave advice and explained to young people how politics is done at the local level and shared their experiences in promoting sustainability policies.
On her occasion, Shayna Blum, a Burlingame High student, told of her experience in different projects in favor of the environment and pointed out that "many people want to help, but don't know how to start", evidencing the need for young people to be guided to carry out contributions that reduce the carbon footprint in their communities.
Likewise, Blum pointed out that “young people are often told that they have to solve climate change, but they are not given the necessary tools to do it.” And it is that although it is evident that there are currently young people concerned about climate change, they have not been provided with the tools they need to achieve change.
However, despite this, in recent years young people have been observed carrying out protests, campaigns and even promoting initiatives in favor of environmental care.
For his part, Jayden Wan, a Burlingame High student, encouraged young people to take action and participate in programs in favor of environmental care. In addition, Wan recommended that at the local level, young people make proposals to address real problems in their communities.
In this sense, Christine Kohl-Zaugg, executive director of Sustainable San Mateo County ?SSMC, for its acronym in English?, explained the programs that the organization has, among which are a report on indicators in which conducted an analysis of the results of sustainability issues, an awards that seeks to raise interest in sustainability issues and inspire others to take action, a sustainable ideas bank for counties and local businesses, a sustainability dashboard that watch San Mateo County's annual progress and “Happy Hour” where virtual meetings are held each month to educate the community on sustainability issues.
Also present at the meeting was Josh Becker, California State Senator from District 13, who encouraged young people to take action against climate change and noted that he has been making great efforts in favor of the environment,
Present at the event were Kirsten Keith, Mark Olbert, Terry Nagel and Georgi Laberge, who, in addition to recounting their experience working for the environment, gave advice to young people to present their ideas to the counties in their communities and finally encouraged and invited to continue making efforts against climate change.
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