A Petition for a Sustainable Future

Kyran Cates

Reporter

As our planet suffers the intensifying consequences of carbon emissions and climate change, students at Idaho State University have decided to push our campus towards joining the fight for a sustainable future. Senior Rituraj Yadav and first-year Emma Watts recently started a petition to encourage ISU’s President, Kevin Satterlee, to enact one of Second Nature’s climate leadership commitments.

Second Nature is an organization dedicated to speeding up climate change action by motivating, mobilizing and organizing climate change initiatives in higher education institutions.

“I call the petition #SustainableBengals. We want each and every one of the Bengals to take

tangible actions in order to reduce their carbon footprint. We want them to live more

sustainably and care for our planet and natural resources,” said Yadav, who is double-majoring in earth and environmental systems, and finance.

Once Watts and Yadav’s petition gains 1,000 signatures, it will encourage ISU to join numerous other universities across the state in the fight against climate change. By committing to one of Second Nature’s Climate leadership commitments, ISU will develop a comprehensive climate action plan and annually evaluate its progress. The petition also calls for a university project charter regarding sustainability on campus.

Backed by students, faculty and ASISU, the sustainability petition has received 643 signatures as of March 6.  If you’re interested in helping initiate sustainability changes on ISU’s campus, you can add your name to the petition at: http://chng.it/zR8pB7FPfj.

College campuses contribute significantly to levels of carbon emissions across the nation, which is why many universities have begun working to reduce their impact on climate change and serve as an example for the rest of their community. Boise State University, Brigham Young University-Idaho, the College of Southern Idaho, the University of Idaho and others have already pledged to reduce their carbon footprint and work towards long-term sustainability.

When asked if they have seen a desire from ISU students to join Second Nature’s climate

leadership commitments, Watts who is a political science and economics major said, “Yes, yes, and yes. Second Nature’s Climate Leadership Commitments encourages sustainable action and our students are calling for change.”

Watts proceeded to explain, “One thing students always comment on is the inadequate number of recycling bins on campus. It’s time to increase accessibility and accountability and this commitment will help that transition.”

Climate change impacts everything from agriculture to human health, soon its effects will be permanently disastrous, and survival will become impossible if serious change doesn’t occur now. It’s up to establishments like Idaho State University to do their part to slow environmental catastrophe and act as a catalyst for sustainability in Pocatello and throughout all of Idaho.

2010 to 2019 was the hottest decade since scientists began keeping a record 140 years ago, according to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The polar ice caps, as well as glaciers and sea ice, are melting at an alarming rate, causing ocean levels to rise and extreme flooding in low-elevation areas.

“Thinking globally, Jakarta, the capital city of Indonesia is sinking by an average of 11 cm

each year. Meaning it will be under the water by the end of the century,” Yadav said.

In the near future, thousands of people will be forced to relocate and flee from the deadly effects of climate change. In addition to global warming, climate change has led to extreme weather across the globe from wildfires, heatwaves and hurricanes, to record rainfall, flooding and droughts.

While some argue that climate change is already irreversible, many more are hopeful that humans still have a chance to change our ways and counteract the destruction of our planet.

“There will soon be a point when the repercussions of climate change will be truly irreversible.

The time is now. Our beautiful community and world will no longer be as it is right now if we don’t take action not only within our personal lives but in our community and on the global scale soon,” said Watts.

#SustainableBengals is more important now than ever, and it is time for ISU to make a commitment to the safety of current and future generations. Sustainability on campus is a crucial step towards reducing the harmful effects of climate change and encouraging others to do the same.

With over 10,000 students, ISU has the ability to educate on and encourage sustainability.

Rituraj Yadav expressed his hopes for the future by saying, “Our future lies in uncertainty and darkness because some people think climate change is unreal. We must fight against this. We must act. And we must do it now.”