WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind.–Students who are members of Confront the Climate Crisis at West Lafayette Jr./Sr. High School walked out of class Friday. Their “climate strike” consisted of speakers including state Sen. Ron Alting (R), who announced new climate change legislation for the 2022 legislative session.
“We’ve communicated with our school administration and they’re totally on board,” said Rahul Durai, a sophomore, and one of the leaders of the walk-out.
LISTEN: High School sophomore Rahul Durai talks climate change in Indiana
He said the school club worked on the legislation with the senator.
“The resolution will be a statement by the General Assembly acknowledging that climate change is a problem and acknowledging that we have to do something about it in the state of Indiana,” said Durai. “The bill would create a climate and environmental justice task force.”
Durai said that task force would be made up of researchers from Purdue and IU, as well as legislators, people from the business community and agricultural industry, and union representatives to work on policy.
“We know with the recent report from the intergovernmental panel on climate change that thiscrisis is code red for humanity and we need to do something about it,” he said.
Durai said one reason they are walking out is to bring attention to climate change. He doesn’t believe the General Assembly and the state in general have taken proper notice.
“It most definitely affects out state. We’ve already begun to see excessive heat and declines in crop yields,” he said. “Our state government unfortunately, isn’t taking the necessary action. So, my peers and I have decided that we’re gonna step up and try to achieve some change.”
