JVAW Pop Up New York

The first step to fighting climate change is electing leaders who will take action.

Takeaways

• We already see effects scientists predicted, such as the loss of sea ice, melting glaciers and ice sheets, sea level rise, and more intense heat waves.
• Scientists predict global temperature increases from human-made greenhouse gases will continue. Severe weather damage will also increase and intensify.

Climate change is leading to higher temperatures and record-setting heat
waves, more frequent and severe droughts, heavy downpours, and sea level
rise. I mean, have you seen California lately? It is literally on fire.
The worst part is that Latinx communities are among the most affected by
the changing climate. A majority of our community lives in in California,
Texas, Florida, and New York, states that are among the most affected by
extreme heat, air pollution, and flooding.

A majority of those working in construction or crop and livestock production
are Latinx. What are they going to do when they have to work under excessive
heat or when their workplace is on fire? Not to mention the poor air quality
in Latinx communities, which makes the children in our communities 40 percent
more likely to die from asthma than other children.

But, climate change affects much more than just our environment, it affects
the economy, public health, and even immigration. When we vote, we are voting
for the future of all of these issues and the future of our children and their
children. Our vote could determine if our representatives choose to pass new
legislation or uphold legislation that is already in place to protect our
environment. We must make climate change a voting issue and communicate this
urgency to others around us. As voters, we need to pay attention to what
candidates are saying and doing on climate change. Elections are a great
opportunity to influence climate policy, so let’s do it before it is too late.