As someone who grew up seeing news containing mass destruction from wildfires, hurricanes and other climate-influenced tragedies, I haven’t seen anything different. However, I do know that this is not normal. From 1983 to 1993, the average number of acres burned due to wildfires was 2,881,398, whereas, from 2010-2020, the average was 7,859,091. From 1966 to 2009, the average number of hurricanes per year was 11. From 2010 on, that annual average has risen to 15.
I’m 13 and have had the past two years of my life taken by COVID. With the path that the Earth is currently on, I won’t get to experience life as “normal.” This summer, my family and I went on a fun vacation to California. I spent 90% of the time indoors due to air quality past unhealthy levels. I only want to live my life — can I?
— Audrey Smith
Anchorage
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