On Sunday the 21^st, I, along with over 400,000 others from across the country and overseas, marched from 72^nd street to 34^th street here in New York City. This march marked the largest climate march in history.  The attendees included UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon, Columbia University scientist James Hansen, Al Gore, Leonardo Dicaprio, thousands of students, business leaders, faith groups, parents, teachers, professors, and many more. The reason we choose to march on that particular day is that the UN Climate Summit was set for two days later on the 23^rd. However, our primary impetus to march stems from a growing concern that our current energy sources, agricultural practices, lifestyle choices, and business practices bear an unsustainable burden on our planet that threaten to dismantle the stability of our global climate system and ecosystem.

Scientists have known for over a century that greenhouse gases such as Carbon Dioxide heat the Earth. It was only during the 1970s when scientists began to notice that our planet was heating at rates previously unknown and began to suspect that anthropogenic release of greenhouse gases may have been the cause. Now, it is scientific consensus that the climate change we are currently witnessing is influenced by our burning of fossil fuels. The problem is that a perfect alternative does not exist and the solution will probably require a multitude of different sources of energy. This is not only an economic and technological issue. Fossil fuel corporations have lobbying strongholds that create a powerful inertia against policy that will disincentivize their use.

Understandably, the lack of crucial action on the part of local, national and international agencies on an issue that threatens our very future has left many dismayed to say the least. In hopes of gaining a voice, many environmentalist groups have formed including 350.org, Climate Reality Project, the Sierra Club, the Natural Resources Defense Council and many more, all of whom I saw represented in person during the March. Among the many chants sung that day included “This is what democracy looks like!” A powerful statement indeed, one of the fundamental core goals of this March was to show people that their civil participation ends not at the voting polls, and must come from their voice actually being heard.

The real reason I marched last Sunday was to participate in collectively reminding decision makers and the world that our planet is in a dire state and action is imperative. What furbished my experience was seeing the incredible diversity of people who were so like-minded: truly people of all backgrounds and walks of life, who all shared my belief that the planet is worth fighting for. Being united for a cause reminded me of the unique community New York truly has, and its ability to join together when the need demands it.

This post was written by a student enrolled in the Capstone Seminar course in the undergraduate program in public policy at Hunter College. Any opinions expressed here are solely those of the student.