From devastating hurricanes in Florida to destructive wildfires in California to increasingly rising sea levels, to changes in temperatures, the global climate crisis is taking effect across the globe. As humans continue to excessively emit greenhouse gases and fossil fuels into the Earth’s atmosphere, the severity of the climate crisis will only increase. However, while the state of the planet is at risk, Benilde-St. Margaret’s students share mixed opinions about the actual importance of the climate crisis and whether its possible consequences are really worth the effort to stop it.
The decline in action towards environmental awareness has been especially low at BSM this year. In years past, many students participated in the sustainability club at BSM. However, since the club’s advisor, choir teacher Ryan Werdon, moved on from BSM to new professional opportunities, the club has yet to meet in the 2024-2025 school year. This declining participation in environmental awareness at BSM is a result of a variety of reasons, but particularly due to decreasing interest in environmental awareness. Additionally, many students are under the impression that the climate crisis doesn’t particularly affect them, holding them back from taking action. “[Environmental awareness is not important to me] in the least. If anything, I just don’t really think much about it. I wake up and I don’t think about it,” junior Melise Wojnicz said.
However, while participation in environmental sustainability activities has not been a primary concern among many students, some take the climate crisis as a priority problem in their personal lives. As the climate clock is rapidly running out, some students are aware of and concerned about the possible consequences of unsustainable practices. “It worries me where our planet’s going and what we’re going to do because I don’t think people know what we’re gonna do when it gets too hot or gets too cold or we start sinking. There is no plan,” senior Kate Jaeger said.
Many students are taking the initiative to implement environmentally safe and sustainable practices into their daily routines by opting for biodegradable and sustainable products instead of products that hurt the environment. “I try, if there’s an option, [to use] biodegradable or more sustainable products. [My family] opts for that over the plastic things. And, we try not to buy things if they contain unnecessary amounts of plastic. I don’t use dry shampoo that has [aerosol] in it,” Jaeger said.
While there has been a rapid decline in attention to the climate crisis among BSM students in the past years, some BSM faculty and staff are beginning to take action in enforcing environmentally safe practices within the classroom. English teacher Paul Canavati is making an effort to promote environmentally friendly practices with his students. “I, personally, make it a point to plant trees every year in my classroom. As of next week, students will no longer be allowed to bring single plastic water bottles into the room, they have to use a reusable water bottle,” Mr. Canavati said.
There is no doubt that the planet is in critical condition as humans continue to practice environmentally unsafe and unsustainable actions. And, while focus on sustainability has been a low priority for some students and participation in environmentally safe practices has been low, many other BSM students, faculty, and staff are making a point to bring sustainability back to BSM in hopes of preserving the planet in the race against climate change.