Do you really think student leadership in sustainability can truly make an impact in the grand scheme of the climate crisis?
“This is a common question and is often the primary downturn for participation in sustainability initiatives from members of our local community; people believe that simply recycling or saving water on their own front hardly makes a difference. The truth is, that such savings add up, and many individuals know that. The EPA states that if everyone shaves a minute of their shower, 170 billion gallons of water would be saved annually. Nonetheless, I think that student leadership goes beyond the individual, which is why we are striving to make the school as a whole pledge to carbon-neutral practices. Through a solar panel project from a large school like ours, greenhouse gas emissions can be reduced significantly, and students gain the satisfaction of knowing they are making a greater impact. If students and leaders across the country and globe were to facilitate such larger initiatives, the impact would be monumental. So yes, the daunting issue of tackling the climate crisis is not insurmountable if we all work together.”
Answer courtesy of Radha Munver, Leader of the Upper School Environmental Club