#ForwardOnClimate

By Casille Systermans, Washington, DC Field Manager and Program Intern

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As a 23 year old, I must admit, I find myself feeling more than a little annoyed at the generations of US and world leaders who, in my view, have failed me and my generation by failing to act on the issue of Climate Change. In the 1970's Jimmy Carter warned us that if we did not work to curb carbon pollution that future generations would see stronger storms, rising sea-levels and more frequent heat waves, among other things. The fossil fuel industry aligned with the political right created an anti-science opposition that caused people to bury their head in the sand (or perhaps in the oil) and ignore the problem. Today those threats are our reality. So it is time for us to take action. On February 17th Clean Water Action and thousands of others will be gathering on the National Mall to push for long awaited action on climate change. While the President has made good progress on climate thus far – like increasing mileage standards to 54.5 mpg by 2025 and reducing mercury and greenhouse gas emissions from new coal-fired power plants – we have a long way to go. During his inaugural speech President Obama made me and the rest of my generation a promise that he would do his duty to us and act on climate change. We support his call for action and we will demand that he fulfill that promise – and help him do it. The Forward on Climate rally promises to be the largest gathering on climate change in US and possibly world history. To me and the thousands of others who will be attending the rally that means it is time for our leaders to stop ignoring science and start thinking about those of us who have to keep living on this planet after they are gone.