"It is our collective and individual responsibility to preserve and tend to the world in which we all live "
-Dalai Lama
-Dalai Lama
A clear blue sky, clean rain and lakes, and green healthy trees are all parts of the environment that most of us take for granted that we can see if we just look outside. These are elements of healthy ecosystems and therefore a healthy Earth. However, unprecedented climate change has jeopardized all of this. Antarctica loses 148 billion tons of ice every year, global temperatures are expected to rise 1.5 degrees Celsius in the next 2 decades on top of already concerning increases in temperature as shown in the map to the left, wildlife populations have dropped 60 percent in 40 years and there's more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere right now than ever before. The consequences are stark, as wildlife will continue to be lost, natural disasters will become more frequent and intense, and coastlines will be lost, culminating in a possible extinction scenario in just a couple of generations. Now, we are on the brink of crossing numerous tipping points in the climate system, which are large-scale components of the environment that are vulnerable. It is unknown if or when any of these will be tipped, but leading scientists continue to believe it is too soon if not now, to not take drastic actions. Any of these points tipping will lead to catastrophic irreversible declines in our climate and environment. It will take bold actions to protect the environment at this point, which becomes increasingly difficult as politicians continue to ignore the issue and much of the population has grown complacent with the crisis. The goal with our initiatives is to start local. Gain the support of kids and adults here, getting them to listen and start understanding the urgency in saving the environment. Only with local support can we hope to expand and spark a statewide or nationwide effort. We have three initiatives that address the environment: hydroponics, tree planting, and awareness, that are all below.
