As each day passes, climate change continues to be prevalent within society. Two of CHS’s very own climate activists are working hard to do as much as they can to save our planet. Seniors Sofi Maranda and Joey Lopez have been interested in climate change education from a very young age. 

“When I was in fourth grade, I learned about microbeads, plastics and pollution in the ocean, which opened my eyes to climate activism and being involved in it,” Maranda said. “That’s when I joined the green team at my school and [started] seeing what our reality already looks like and then what it could be like.”

Joining the green team which was an after school club at Maranda’s middle school was the start of her journey into climate activism. The things she learned about climate change and the work she did to help the environment during her time on the green team paved the way for the work she does now. It also gave her hope for the future of climate change because she saw first hand the changes and solutions that could be made to stop climate change and better the environment.

With hopes to make sure his kids and grandkids live in an environmentally safe world, Joey Lopez is taking action as a part of the Jewish Youth Climate Movement (JYCM).

“I am very involved in my Jewish community,” Lopez said. “My mother, who attends lots of community events and meetings, told me of a climate activism organization called the Jewish Youth Climate Movement. She thought I would like to join, and I applied and got in. From then on, I have loved participating in JYCM.”

Lopez was inspired by one of his cousins who works for an umbrella organization over JYCM called Hazon, which is also focused on Jewish climate activism. 

“My cousin has made it his life’s work to help the earth and prevent climate change,” Lopez said. “He has opened vegan restaurants, helped build local farms and been active in animal welfare.”

Maranda on the other hand was inspired by both her parents and teachers. Her parents are very experienced in social justice and have worked at various non-profit organizations which gave her exposure to the work she is doing now. 

“My teacher in fourth grade and sixth grade got me involved in the green team and environmental clubs,” Maranda said. “Then in high school I joined the JYCM and started doing work there. [Climate activism] is important because it’s going to affect everyone and it’s affecting people now too, especially marginalized communities and people in the Global South are seeing the [many] disastrous effects of climate change,” Maranda said. “This is the only [Earth] we have so we need to take care of it. It’s really devastating to see people not care. “

On a personal level, Lopez tries to prioritize the small tasks such as recycling containers and composting to do his part if helping a cause greater than just himself. He tries to buy products that are both local and made near where he lives. It’s important to Lopez to help local businesses instead of large corporations in order to help reduce his carbon footprint.

Both Lopez and Maranda feel an impending sense of doom when it comes to the future of the climate and our planet. However, they are also holding out faith for the future. Lopez uses a quote by Nietzsche as motivation to continue his work. The quote reads, “I know of no better purpose in life than to perish in attempting the great and the impossible.”

Looking to the future, Lopez hopes that his future children will feel happy and safe on our planet. Maranda hopes that regulation will be put into place and very necessary changes will be made to how things work.

“I just hope that people will value the future of our planet over money,” Maranda said.