2009 Climate Champions

Through a statewide competition, 10 young people who demonstrated a commitment to environmental issues and making a change in their communities were selected as California Climate Champions for 2009.

Name: Andrea W.

Age: 17
Grade: 12
School: Valencia High School
Hometown: Placentia, CA
Champion since 2009

Climate change matters deeply to me because I have a profound love of nature. I have a passion for the outdoors and spent last summer backpacking through Yosemite, and want to fight for the environment to protect our beautiful planet. I love learning, but I’m also active outside of class as the captain of my varsity golf team, editor-in-chief of the school newspaper and a member of Science Olympiad and my school’s science and eco clubs. I plan to major in Environmental Studies in college and pursue a career in environmentalism.

Andrea’s project:

In an effort to address the threats to water resources in southern California posed by climate change, Andrea is hoping to encourage the use of native plants in the public areas of Placentia. She will work with local officials to replace non-native plants that draw too heavily on the local water supply with more drought-resistant native varieties. The project will include coordination with the city council and public schools, fundraising and creating a group of local volunteers.

Name: Elizabeth V.

Age: 16
Grade: 10
School: Antioch High School
Hometown: Antioch, CA
Champion since 2009

Climate change matters to me because I believe that we must make a change now. If we don’t, there’s no way to save our planet and ourselves: we have to leave manageable living conditions for our future generations. I have been told that I am a leader, that I know how to take charge and that I can make a difference, and I hope to do this as a Climate Champion. In addition to my interest in protecting the environment, I also enjoy dance and French Club.

Elizabeth’s project:

Elizabeth believes that raising awareness of the issue of climate change among her generation is an important step forward in doing something about it. She plans on writing and producing a play to inform students at Bay Area schools about climate change and the risks of not taking action now.

Name: Jason B.

Age: 18
Grade: 12
School: Aragon High School
Hometown: Foster City, CA
Champion since 2009

When something as major as climate change threatens not only the fate of this complex planet but also the survival of humanity, I could not imagine dedicating my passion and energy to a more worthwhile cause. I am the founder of my high school’s environmental impact committee, a member of Foster City’s Sustainability Task Force, and I maintain an environmental activism blog called the Greenius Report, which serves as a primer for others to green their own schools. I also love to play piano, run, play tennis, read, cook, and debate in Model United Nations and mock trial.

Jason’s project:

With an interest in transitioning to renewable energy sources, Jason would like to apply the city of Berkeley’s residential solar panel funding model to his hometown. In Berkeley, residents interested in installing solar panels on their homes can join a special tax district funded by municipal bond investors, which will fund the installation through property taxes. Jason seeks to start similar programs in two local municipalities by working closely with local government officials.

Name: Julia B.

Age: 17
Grade: 11
School: Aragon High School
Hometown: San Mateo, CA
Champion since 2009

To me, there is no debate, only decision: Stop climate change, or do nothing. I’ve made my choice, and as my high school’s Environmental Impact Committee’s Vice President, I advocate one word: Action. Climate change presents us at once with a formidable and impressive hurdle; formidable because of the devastating degeneration of Earth’s natural environment, but impressive because of the boundless possibilities for global unity and cooperation. As a surfer, varsity swimmer, and AP Biography student, I’ve grown to realize how everything between nature and humanity is interrelated.

Julia’s project:

Julia wants her school to be a model for how to be energy efficient and live in a low-carbon way. Julia will create a school survey based on the EPA’s “Calculate Your Impact” survey in order to determine which areas of energy usage her school needs to improve. Using the results, Julia will devise a plan for educating her peers about areas of weakness and will create an action plan for changing these behaviors.

Name: Kayla C.

Age: 15
Grade: 10
School: Templeton High School
Hometown: Templeton, CA
Champion since 2009

Planet Earth has always taken care of humanity, but now the roles are reversed and humans have the obligation to take care of our environment, and I want to help. The earth is on the cusp of irreversible damage and the solution will be through individuals changing their habits. I am an experienced public speaker and peer leader through my involvement in Mock Trial and student government for three years. I know I have something to give back to this planet, and as a champion, I will wholly commit to improving the environment and taking the message forward!

Kayla’s project:

Kayla is concerned with the waste created by discarded plastic water bottles, and has noticed that many of her peers buy plastic water bottles each day. She hopes to stop this trend by encouraging the use of metal reusable water bottles, and identifying options including reverse osmosis machines to purify tap water in the heavily-used parts of her campus. Kayla will work with school officials determine what technology is best suited to the school, and will also work with fellow students to encourage them to swap out disposable plastic bottles with metal reusable ones.

Name: Mark B.

Age: 17
Grade: 11
School: Palos Verdes High School
Hometown: Rolling Hills Estates, CA
Champion since 2009

I am 100% committed to all that I pursue. It is profoundly important to me that I follow through on what I begin and put full effort into everything. From the classroom to the gymnastics studio, I work for what I want to achieve. I am a level 9 competitive gymnast, spending time in the gym to improve but also to relax. My Science Olympiad team is very important to me too, as we learn about our planet in a collaborative fashion. Living in a coastal region, climate change particularly affects my hometown and all of California. I want to be a part of the team to spread the message of global warming to the entire public.

Mark’s project:

Mark hopes to help tackle climate change by developing mechanisms to use alternative forms of energy. In particular, based on research he has already been performing with his high school science department and the local water treatment plant, Mark plans on experimenting with microbial fuel cells as energy generators. Powered by bacteria, this method is doubly beneficial in that it produces no carbon dioxide emissions while also helping to treat wastewater. Mark will also include activities designed to educate peers and the general public about his research.

Name: Melissa R.

Age: 17
Grade: 12
School: Gonzales High School
Hometown: Chualar, CA
Champion since 2009

Climate change is important because it affects the world I live in, and recycling is part of the solution. Starting a recycling program at school has opened my eyes to the many ways to decrease greenhouse gas emissions. We need to inform our communities about diverting all recyclable materials from landfill disposals. Recycling reduces carbon emissions, because making products from recyclable materials requires much less energy than making products from raw materials, and recycling also reduces methane emissions from landfills. In addition to my commitment to environmental issues, my other interests include playing sports, particularly tennis and soccer. I am also involved in many school organizations such as the Environmental Science Club, Associated Student Body, Future Farmers of America and American Field Service.

Melissa’s project:

Melissa wants to promote recycling not just in her school but across her community. Working with peers, the Salinas Valley Solid Waste Authority, school janitors and the city of Gonzales, Melissa will analyze how much garbage and recycling her school produces. She will then take steps to reduce trash created by students by placing more recycling bins in key locations around the school and researching better waste removal options.

Name: Monica H.

Age: 17
Grade: 12
School: Saint Francis High School
Hometown: Mountain View, CA
Champion since 2009

Climate change is important to me because I want future generations to be able to experience nature as we do presently. My current interests include track, cross-country, piano, National Honor Society, California Scholarship Federation, and Foreign Language Honors Society. I am also co-president of my school’s environmental club. I enjoy working with kids and have volunteered at Camp Galileo and Yes! Reading.

Monica’s project:

Knowing that education can be a powerful tool for behavior change, Monica wants to spread the climate change message beyond her own peers to younger students as well. Monica’s project, Klimate Kidz, seeks to instill environmentally sustainable values in grade-school students. She plans on educating children by making skits, games, songs and videos that explain the impact of pollution and global warming and will also give examples of individual actions students can take to contribute to the solution.

Name: Nicolas D.

Age: 16
Grade: 11
School: Rim of the World High School
Hometown: Lake Arrowhead, CA
Champion since 2009

I believe that environmental activism is a core aspect of social responsibility to our planet. It has been my experience that the vast majority of our society is apathetic to global warming, simply because they are uncertain of how to respond. I look forward to utilizing my passion for education to communicate the broad and enduring issue of climate change. I am also involved in the Interact Club, National Honor Society, and cross-country running.

Nicolas’s project:

Nicolas is interested in identifying lower-emission sources of fuel that can be used throughout his community. He plans to research and test whether biodiesel can replace diesel fuels to power his town’s school buses. Since diesel is expensive and emits pollutants, Nicolas would like to study whether waste vegetable oil would be a feasible alternative fuel source and test the logistics of using it in a cold climate, where the fuel may freeze in the winter.

Name: Soraya O.

Age: 17
Grade: 12
School: Lowell High School
Hometown: San Francisco, CA
Champion since 2009

Because of my interest in international relations and my compassion for people, climate change matters to me; it is an ever-growing global crisis that I do not fully comprehend how to improve. By educating myself as much as I can on the assorted aspects of climate change, I hope to effectively help others understand the problem and be a part of the solution. To learn more about the crisis, I have researched and written environmental articles for my school newspaper. I am also involved with the World Affairs Council program, where I am exposed to the views of leaders in the international field.

Soraya’s project:

Soraya would like to reduce the amount of waste that ends up in landfills. She hopes to create a composting system in the Stonestown Galleria Mall and at San Francisco State University’s food courts to reduce the amount of biodegradable food that gets processed with trash. She hopes to instill a habit of separating waste among mall-goers and college students by making composting bins available next to trash bins.

The California Climate Champions program, sponsored by the California Air Resources Board and the British Council, is one of a number of similar initiatives established in many countries around the world. Learn more about the International Climate Champions Program.