Environmental leaders speak to students about climate justice

For Earth Day, E-Town Sunrise — a student-led group focused on climate action — invited environmental leaders for its fifth-annual panel, in a discussion between those working in environmental justice and young people. 

About 100 students gathered in the Evanston Township High School’s auditorium Wednesday afternoon for the panel, moderated by students Isabella Franconeri and Olin Thomas-Wilson, to discuss racial equity, policy and the future of environmental advocacy. 

“These students understand something critical, they will inherit a mess that they did not create,” said Janet Alexander Davis, co-chair of Environmental Justice Evanston and a panelist. “Whether it be polluted air and water, unaffordable housing or the racial inequities baked into our institutions… their voices matter and we should be listening.” 

Alexander Davis commended the students for attending the panel and engaging in the conversation.

“You’re not too young to be at the table,” Alexander Davis said. “I don’t know if when I was your age, I would’ve been even thinking of the things we’re talking about today.” 

A lifelong resident, Alexander Davis and spoke about how the city’s history of redlining has shaped its racial demographics and contributed to a decreasing Black population, leading to environmental inequalities in predominantly minority wards. 

These inequalities were also highlighted in the city’s Environmental Equity Investigation published in January, including uneven tree canopy coverage and disparities in homeownership, which make residents more vulnerable to environmental harm. 

Students also played a quiz game on the findings of that investigation, answering questions on housing disparities, rising property tax costs and whether climate change affects everyone equally.  

Also on the panel was Jerri Garl, the other co-chair of Environmental Justice Evanston. Garl, a geologist who worked with the Environmental Protection Agency for years, said organizing is critical to making real change. 

“Local action and strengthening the authorities of local entities like the city of Evanston is the most important thing, especially given the status of our federal agencies,” Garl said. “At the community level, it does require a belief in the possibility of positive change.” 

To wrap up the conversation, panelists were asked how they stay hopeful in their work. 

“The best antidote to anxiety is action, and I really believe that,” Jack Jordan, executive director of Climate Action Evanston, said. “What the climate movement really offers that I found as a young person is a lot of agency, responsibility and the ability to see yourself making a difference.” 

Students were also asked to make a “pledge” to Climate Action Evanston committing to actions such as recycling and picking up litter. 

Jordan Gurneau, a doctoral candidate in environmental engineering at Northwestern University who researches wild rice, spoke about his 11-year-old daughter asking him about pollution. 

“I had this fear at the moment, but I said, ‘It’s okay, you don’t have to be afraid, and she said ‘I’m not afraid, I’m mad,’” Gurneau said. 

“So whatever your feelings are about this crisis that we’re in together, don’t doubt your contributions for a second.”