This coming September, the global community is set to confront the pressing issue of climate change with an unprecedented demonstration of collective action.
The impetus behind this global movement originates with younger generations. Today’s students are navigating a historical epoch characterized by escalating temperatures, with each passing year exceeding the last in heat, while polar ice caps diminish at an alarming rate, plunging Earth’s climate into a state of unparalleled disarray.
It is unsurprising that this emerging generation has grown weary of the avarice, inertia, and deficient political resolve exhibited by those in positions of authority—individuals capable of averting catastrophic carbon emissions and constraining global warming to below a critical threshold of 1.5°C.
From September 20th to September 27th, 2019, a vast contingent of young individuals worldwide will vocalize their stance on climate change through organized strikes and demonstrations, underscoring our collective obligation as adults to offer them unwavering support.
In commentary published previously, the young activists orchestrating this widespread protest articulated their sentiments, stating, “We perceive that many adults have yet to fully grasp that we, the youth, cannot single-handedly surmount the climate crisis.” The source of this statement can be found here.
“Our apologies if this causes any inconvenience. However, this undertaking is not confined to a single generation; it is a collective responsibility of all humanity.”
Furthermore, the planned actions extend beyond mere walkouts. Leading up to the public mobilizations, discussions concerning climate change are poised to intensify significantly, amplified not only by our platform but also by pervasive mainstream media coverage.
ScienceAlert has become a participant in the Covering Climate Now initiative, a collaborative effort spearheaded by the Columbia Journalism Review and The Nation. This commitment involves over 200 media organizations globally, dedicating their focus to climate change matters from September 16th to September 23rd, in anticipation of the United Nations Climate Action Summit scheduled in New York.
Our engagement will not cease there; on September 20th, we will implement our own form of a digital strike.
Should any discernable affiliations be considered, we, as science journalists, consistently align ourselves with empirical evidence. The scientific consensus regarding human-induced climate change is unequivocally established.
Geoscientists and climate researchers across the globe have voiced robust endorsement for the student-led demonstrations, explicitly confirming that the apprehensions of the young activists are both valid and substantiated by the most current scientific findings. They further emphasize that the existing strategies for safeguarding the climate and the biosphere are profoundly insufficient.
However, despite the grim prognosis, humanity is not devoid of agency.
An open letter, endorsed by numerous academics in March and in solidarity with school climate strikes, declared, “Our scientific comprehension of current and projected climate repercussions unequivocally mandates a comprehensive overhaul of our energy infrastructure and societal frameworks at all levels and across all sectors to facilitate the rapid decarbonization of our economy.” The full statement is accessible via this link.
“Individuals who contest specific policy proposals bear the responsibility of presenting feasible and effective alternatives that are proportionate to the magnitude of the challenge. Disregarding the issue will not lead to its resolution.”
For those disinclined to acknowledge this reality, there is a distinct possibility of being on the wrong side of historical progress, resorting to antiquated arguments concerning geological events and natural planetary fluctuations, while the broader human population endeavors to resolve this crisis.
The Global Climate Strike website states, “Collectively, we will sound the alarm and demonstrate to our elected officials that the continuation of standard practices is no longer a viable option. The climate emergency brooks no delay, and neither shall we.” The source is here.
Consequently, we are pleased to announce that on September 20th, 2019, ScienceAlert has committed to suspending its normal operational routine. Consequently, you will not encounter the usual array of compelling scientific news updates that populate your feeds daily.
Nonetheless, our commitment to raising awareness will persist.
While our editorial staff will be participating in climate strikes across Australia, as well as in the United States and the United Kingdom, our primary web page will be exclusively dedicated to showcasing climate-related narratives that we feel are most vital to disseminate. Further updates will follow.
