Youth ready to lead on climate

As a young person from Naperville attending Metea Valley High School, I have felt the brunt of our climate crisis. This past fall, my neighborhood saw detrimental air quality conditions from Canadian wildfires. In the hottest part of summer, searing heat waves have led to widespread power outages. This isn’t some distant issue. It’s urgent, local and deeply personal.

I chose to intern at Accelerate Climate Solutions, a local nonprofit dedicated to advancing clean energy and climate justice. This summer, we’re creating space for youth voices and creative expression to lead the conversation. On July 21, we’re hosting a student panel at the Naperville Municipal Center where young climate leaders will share their lived experiences, ideas and solutions. On Aug. 2, our student-led climate art gallery, “The World We Inherit,” opens downtown Naperville, featuring original art and active demonstrations.

These projects reflect what climate leadership can look like: community-driven and grounded in justice. I’ve been working hard to make our community more sustainable, but this isn’t a one-person job. Working together, Naperville does have the power to lead, but only if we choose to listen, act and uplift the next generation.

Praneeth Doddi

Aurora