Climate change is becoming a bigger and bigger issue worldwide; 2023 was the warmest year on record at about 1.45 degrees celsius above the pre-industrial baseline. Antarctic sea ice has reached its lowest levels on record and over 90% of the ocean experienced heatwaves sometime during the year.

As the next generation, what can we do for the climate? The answer lies in the Climate Leaders Fellowship at Oak Park High School. At CLF, students work together to carry out community projects meant to combat local climate change, as well as learn about climate change issues on a local and global scale. This year, there is a special emphasis on glasses.

“For our first project, we are planning to expand on the eyeglasses and sunglasses drive from last year and hold it district-wide,” sophomore president Simran Kaur wrote to the Talon. “As a result, fewer pairs will end up in landfills and more can be donated to people who don’t have the resources to buy their own with the partnership of the Conejo Valley Lions Club.”

Last year, Kaur noticed the problem with not being able to recycle her old eyeglasses, motivating her to hold an eyeglasses and sunglasses collection drive at OPHS. The drive collected 180 glasses in total.

“Seeing how successful it was, I realized that there was scope for more projects like this that could help our community and combat climate change,” Kaur wrote. “I started the CLF club so that students would have the unique opportunity to meet with other like-minded students in our high school and come together to make a change in our community.”

After holding their district-wide eyeglasses and sunglasses drive, CLF will spend the second semester taking their learnings and researching other community issues that they will be able to address. 

“I hope our projects this year inspire others in our school and community to take action, follow their passions and make a difference in our community as well, because the only way we can fight climate change at a larger scale is if we all work together and do our part in saving our planet Earth,” Kaur wrote.