Local students learn how to be environmental leaders at climate summit

Local youth attending a climate change conference in San Francisco said they’re learning that by working together change is possible.

The group of four Imperial Valley students said their participation in the Global Climate Action Summit has made them more determined to work towards making the world a better place.

Central Union High School graduate Leonardo Valdivia said, “It’s like a networking event. It’s a lot of speakers that have come to talk about what many of the companies are doing and innovations that are going on in different cities and different companies.”

Isaac Otero, Brawley High School graduate, said thousands of people from around the world are attending the two-day invitation-only conference at the Moscone Center.

“A strong sense of unity, more like people coming together. Everyone understands what they have to do,” Otero said.

The event featured climate change panels, workshops, tours, exhibits and various special activities, such as a massive demonstration outside the center.

Calipatria High School graduate Maria Sanchez said, “I think I’ve learned how to have action on everything, air quality and everything,” Sanchez said.

The students said being there has empowered them.

“I learned that it’s more than just government, cities, doing things to help reduce climate changes, the people, businesses, and it’s everybody putting their effort all at once to try and reduce the problem,” Valdivia said.

Otero added, “I feel that now I know a bunch of people who also back up the idea that the world needs to be a better place, that I feel more confident in myself to achieve my dreams of making this world a better place.”

For more information, people can visit www.globalclimateactionsummit.org .