Climate Change is real and we can do something about it

Dear City Of Boston,

Climate change is killing our earth and although we can’t stop it completely, we can try a few things that will help reduce the rates. I am Alikhan, 16 and a Boston student who cares about the community. Setting up more communities to clean up, plant trees, and lessen the use of plastic bags would help the earth and provide ways for a reduction in pollution and climate change. I know that you already have plans in place to help but I have suggestions that would help us do more. 

According to National Geographic, “Climate change has caused ice to melt, leading to rising sea levels. Many species are on the move trying to adapt to the new temperatures due to climate change.” Climate change happens because we’re not caring enough for the earth. In the city of Boston, we are also impacted by climate change. As stated in your article, “Boston’s sea levels are projected to rise by three feet or more by the end of the century. This will make floods from today’s harshest storms more likely to occur.” There have been more storms, and more severe weather. We can also expect things to become much worse over time given the rate of climate change. Also, according to NASA, “The potential future effects of global climate change include more frequent wildfires, longer periods of drought in some regions, and an increase in the number, duration and intensity of tropical storms.” There has already been rising temperatures, and if this goes on, we will be seeing more drastic impacts on earth. A Washington Post article states, “Boston’s low-income neighborhoods, where public housing projects were built on landfill, are particularly vulnerable to flooding. By the end of the century, a large part of the Dorchester neighborhood, which on its own would be the fourth-largest city in Massachusetts, could be underwater.” We need to do our best to make sure this doesn’t happen. To save the city, we need to start acting now and put more effort into preventing this from happening. 

I want you officials to try and collaborate and work with organizations set up to deal with this matter. Working as a group, there are many things we can all accomplish together. We can build communities to plant trees and help clean up areas in the city. We can also set up organizations to deal with environmental impacts in a broader aspect, targeting where help is needed the most and setting up long-term plans to decrease rates of climate change. I believe this is the best method to attack the problem because it’s the most efficient way to start helping the earth both in small communities and in other locations. Some organizations already doing this work include names such as Trees for the Future, Plant-for-the-Planet and the Natural Resources Defense Council fighting against pollution. The city can give more support to programs that exist or even create new ones surrounding the same ethic of these programs. Boston can collaborate with these programs and receive help in the community and it is also possible to collaborate and help other places as well.  

The earth is our home and will be for many more generations. To ensure the survival of this community and many others, we need to be establishing plans that can help the planet and protect it against mankind’s mistakes. Remember that you have the power to help out and lend a hand. Thank you.   

Sincerely, 

Alikhan Romeus