For the second year in a row, a group of local climate organizations will be marching through downtown Rochester in conjunction with Global Day of Action.
The September 27 march will begin in Washington Square Park and feature speeches from participating organizations (including Climate Solutions Accelerator, Third Act Rochester, Sunrise Rochester, Rochester Youth Climate Leaders, Citizens Climate Lobby, and others) as well as several local government leaders. The march will conclude with a climate fair in the park.
The march aims to inspire action, educate participants on the interconnectedness of modern-day challenges, and recruit individuals to proactively address the issues.
“Finding the right fit is great because we all work at different levels, whether it’s a student on a college campus trying to influence what happens at their institution or a student at a high school trying to influence what happens there,” says Brady Ferguson, director of public engagement at the Climate Solutions Accelerator. “Or it could be a local government like the City of Rochester or the Town of Brighton or the Village of Fairport. Or it could be Monroe County or the state of New York or the whole of the United States.”
“There are so many levels that we have to address and so many issues because most, if not all, are interconnected,” he added.
Ferguson cited the issue of violence, which he said is exacerbated by climate change, as shootings tend to become more frequent as temperatures rise. Protest leaders believe that bringing together a wide variety of groups, each with their own focus and approach, will help appeal to a broad range of people.
For example, at the march, Metro Justice will be speaking about its “Rochester for Energy Democracy” campaign, which aims to create a public utility alternative to Rochester Gas & Electric Co., while Third Act is focused on pressuring banks and insurance companies to divest from fossil fuels.
Taking part in activism also combats the sense of despair some people feel in the face of the enormity of climate change. “Action is the antidote to despair,” Ferguson says.
“I think giving that feeling a name and recognizing that other people feel the same way can motivate you to do something instead of just sitting there feeling bad,” he says. “Let that emotion motivate you to take action and get involved.”
Ferguson found this was especially true for young people, who suffer from “climate anxiety” on a daily basis.
“Anxiety about the future is even stronger among young people who have a longer future ahead of them. They look around them and wonder what’s going to happen in the world,” he says.
“This is a climate justice issue, because if we don’t turn things around, younger people are going to feel the negative effects of climate change longer and have more severe impacts in the future,” Ferguson continues. “And younger people have contributed less to this problem, so there’s an injustice there as well.”
That’s why it was important to the organizers of the march to have an intergenerational organizing committee. They believe it’s important to show support from all age groups to show that this issue affects all types of people, and everyone will be participating in the march.
“We know that climate change can’t be solved by one city or one country alone,” Ferguson said. “It’s going to take many people doing what we’re doing with these marches.”
Jacob Schermerhorn Contributing writer and data journalist at the Rochester Beacon. The Beacon welcomes comments and letters from readers who agree with our policies. Comments Policy This includes using real names. Letter page mail recipient [email protected].
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