On Friday, Sep. 24, young people around the world expressed a need for change in the environment and took action on the issue. In recent months, a report by The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change stated that global temperatures may rise as much as 1.5 degrees Celsius by the end of the century. This drove many young people to take a stand for climate justice.  

People in Miami decided to get involved, gathering outside city halls and demanding action towards protecting the planet. Many of those individuals worry about the predicted increases in temperature and risk of the rising sea levels in the future.

Reports show a noted rise in sea levels, specifically during the fall season. Sea levels rise significantly more in Florida, due to the combination of the gravitational pull of the moon and the sun, pulling water inland and slowing the Gulf Stream. Over the last 10 years, sea levels in Florida have risen 1 inch every 3 years. This impacts Florida residents due to the amount of flooding caused even when there is no heavy rainfall. 

In May, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed two bills that lawmakers said would ensure the state could better prepare for future flooding. However, in demand for more change, young people went to city hall for “The Code Red Day of Action” to make their voices heard.

“The Code Red Event was used to call out these politicians and demand real change, because that’s what we need, especially in something that’s so global, we have this lack of accountability,” Five Dollar Project Representative Nicole Ruiz said. The Five Dollar Project focuses on community building for climate adaptation and awareness.

People of all ages attended the events for the “Code Red Day of Action.” They spoke on the effects climate change has on the environment and informed others who may not know about the initiative. Students also expressed that some may feel “uncomfortable” in sharing their opinion because it may differ from someone else’s but that one voice can be all that is necessary to initiate change.

“Something I think we see a lot is that people tend to get embarrassed if they are the only ones in the room who support a specific cause or specific issue. I think the most important thing is not to be afraid to be alone because your long term change has to start somewhere,” Ruiz said.

“Code Red Day Of Action” has allowed for people to gather together and talk to representatives about issues they feel need to be addressed.

“At this point we cannot reverse what has been done, but we can totally prevent it from worsening, through getting local legislations attention and spreading awareness,” Code Red Event speaker and MPSH senior Daniela Hernández said. “Ignorance is bliss and right now we can’t afford for anyone to be uninformed.”