The Issues That Matter Most to Teenagers in This Election

“It’s not just about the environment, it’s about humanity’s survival.”

The Climate Clock tells us that we have under six years to prevent the worst impacts of climate change. Each second on the Climate Clock lost is a step closer to irreversible damage. This urgency is why climate change matters to me more than any other issue as it’s not just about the environment, it’s about humanity’s survival. According to NBC News, rising sea levels could displace about 200 million people, wiping out major cities. Stanford News explains how unpredictable weather patterns are caused by climate change and can disrupt agriculture, leading to food shortages and higher prices. More frequent and severe storms, wildfires, and floods are claiming many lives at an alarming rate. Additionally, vulnerable populations, particularly in poorer regions, are suffering the most despite contributing the least to the problem. According to the World Economic Forum, by 2050, 216 million climate refugees will be displaced. This number is alarming. The clock is ticking, and the longer we delay the harder it will be to stop these threats. — Tarika, HOH

“Hearing politicians openly declare that they believe climate change is a manufactured ‘hoax’ or simply unimportant is painful to listen to.”

At 11 years old, I was preparing for the end of the world. An avid consumer of dystopian novels and movies, I would envision apocalyptic scenarios swarming with zombies and extraterrestrials. I meticulously assembled “survival kits,” which included a hodgepodge of duct tape, Band-Aids, and spare bottles. Looking back, six years on, my childhood doomsday prepping seems like the mere byproduct of a kid with an overactive imagination and a love for science fiction. Yet, as the threat of climate catastrophe looms ever more prominent and little progress is made, I worry aspects of my fanciful dystopia may become a reality.

As political leaders’ narratives shift from issue to issue, I can’t help but think, “What’s the point?” As we feebly try to combat societal woes and deal with localized crises, we hurdle closer to unmitigated climate disaster. Hearing politicians openly declare that they believe climate change is a manufactured “hoax” or simply unimportant is painful to listen to — both because of the implications for my generation and everyone who will come after us, but also because we have the power to mitigate the worst of global warming. For now, I fear for the future. As temperatures hit record highs, month after month, I can’t help but envision the same apocalyptic scenes I have in the past. This time, however, instead of aliens to contend with, there are rising sea levels and ecological collapse — scenarios that my homemade survival kits fail to help with. — Oz, Washington State

“The idea of having children, and then grandchildren, who almost certainly will have to deal with climate change daily if nothing gets done is scary.”

While I wasn’t directly affected by Hurricane Helene, seeing reports of destruction and flooding as far inland as Asheville, North Carolina is a gloomy sight for the future. As the Gulf of Mexico continues to warm due to climate change, it’s very likely that fast-growing, and powerful storms like this will become more common …