I live in the United States in the state of Idaho. In the city of Boise, my high school is pushing our District Board to become more sustainable. They will receive this from our high school tonight and the board meeting will take place on Monday, November 8th. This will decide if the Boise School District will support the sustainability plan put forth. My work has been to make sure they do.

The letter:

Dear Boise School District Board of Trustees,

On behalf of the Boise High School Student Council, I am writing in support of the Sustainability Committee’s Clean Energy Commitment Resolution. The climate crisis is one of the most pressing issues for the student body of Boise High School. There are three environmental clubs at our school which collectively have over one hundred members. Many Boise High students are also involved in environmental stewardship in the community, including the initiative to enact a clean energy commitment and long-term sustainability roadmap in the Boise School District. Climate anxiety is a significant burden on the mental health of our entire generation, and the only way to resolve this is by resolute climate action and education. Sustainability Committee’s Clean Energy Commitment Resolution is an opening gambit to taking necessary collective efforts to reduce BSD greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate global warming. 

Nevertheless, further action is needed. While this resolution demonstrates the Trustees’ concern for students and the environment, a commitment without a timeline is, in effect, meaningless. I urge the Board to consider the 2030 and 2040 respective targets that students put forth for clean electricity and clean energy and establish a period no longer than six months for the sustainability committee to draft a climate action plan.

Thank you for considering students’ concerns regarding the climate crisis in drafting this resolution. I look forward to your continued collaboration with Boise High students on climate solutions in the Boise School District. 

Sincerely,

Elizabeth Duke-Moe

All Student Body President of Boise High School