Op-ed: Students say Helene made climate change and this election personal

When we said “climate change is real,” this is what we meant.

When we said that inaction would cost us, this is what we were afraid of.

When we were told to compromise and be patient, we grew frustrated. Because we knew what the future held.

But guess what? This year we get to vote.

We are college students in western North Carolina who had the start of our adult lives thrown into chaos by Hurricane Helene. We are lucky. We did not lose loved ones. We were not injured. Our property was not damaged. But we did see — right in front of our eyes — the latest episode of a crisis that will define our whole lives.

There is no debate our planet is warming and making storms more intense. Scientists say the high rainfall from Helene was twenty times more likely because of climate change. The result: a “thousand year” flood crashed into our world.

With classes canceled, we did what we could. We distributed water. We cleaned up debris. We cleared dorm fridges of rotting food.

And we watched. We watched as businesses were destroyed. We watched as elderly grandparents became evacuees. We watched as family homes were flooded and ruined.

And we wondered what our future holds. What businesses can we build? Where are the climate havens in which we can raise our families? When it comes time for us to retire, what will be left for us? Will evacuation simply be the norm?

The devastation that surrounds us in western North Carolina is bleak. Recovery will take decades. But we still believe in our power to shape the world.

First, we need our leaders to take climate change seriously. Jobs and economic development are crucial — but leaders must recognize they are inextricably tied to climate change. As the costs of recovery from Helene mount, it becomes clear compromising on climate in the name of progress simply won't work.

To avoid the worst of the crisis we need a fast transition to clean energy. We must embrace new technologies: solar panels on rooftops, wind energy in our mountains and along our coasts, energy efficient appliances. We must be honest about what helps and stop excusing what hurts. 

We are excited about the jobs these new industries promise. Schools across North Carolina stand ready to train the next generation of climate engineers, installers, operators and thinkers.

We are young. But we are not naive. We know doing what is needed will mean some sacrifice. But we have our whole lives ahead of us. Lives that will be full of Helenes, Miltons, Michaels and Florences. Lives that will be hit by wildfires, crop failures and mudslides.

This year we experienced what awaits us if we don't move fast on climate action. But we are also excited to see leaders stepping up. Addressing this crisis will take our whole lives, but we are not afraid to meet the challenge.

This Election Day our loud and urgent voices will be heard, and we will continue to call for action from whomever is elected.

- Lili Jones, Warren Wilson College; Zach Powell & Sam Ogburn, Western Carolina University; Lydia Pate & Allison Melrose, UNC Asheville; Hazel Grine & Will Davis, Appalachian State University