Portland Youth Strike to keep the Climate Cool

By Ava Yu ‘22 and Sam Bailey ‘23

On September 24, 2021, at 11:00 am, over 4,000 students from across Portland walked out of school and gathered at the Portland Convention Center for a common purpose: to protest for environmental justice.

Organized by the Portland youth, including several Catlin Gabel School (CGS) students, the strike demanded action by the City of Portland and expressed concern for the climate crisis. According to the UN Environmental Programme, climate change is affecting and displacing at least 30 million people worldwide.

The Portland Youth Climate Strike committee created a list of demands for the City of Portland to reduce our carbon footprint and impact on the environment. According to the Portland Youth Climate Strike Instagram page, @portlandclimatestrike, some of the demands include: "A total switch to green infrastructure, for Portland to be 100% carbon neutral by 2035, and decarbonization of our region's transportation system."

Enthusiasm filled the air as students from across Portland and allies marched from the Convention center to the City Hall with, holding their signs high. "What do we want?... Climate justice!” The students chanted, “When do we want it?...Now!"

Best summarized by CG Junior Colin Turner, who attended the Climate Strike, "The enthusiasm and participation amongst the youth and my fellow peers was refreshing and inspiring. It's also scary to know that this issue is disregarded by many adults and people in power, which means it becomes our [the youth’s] responsibility to hold these authorities accountable."