Becoming the president calls the candidate to not only consider the issues that they feel the most passionate about, but also issues that their country feels are most important. In my opinion, the issue of climate change is the one that is the most impactful and dangerous to not just the United States, but to the whole world. 

Over the past five years, I have witnessed climate change in my daily life. I remember in middle school, school was cancelled for two days because of a storm. Not a snow storm, but the leftovers of a southern hurricane that had moved up north and left destruction in its path. In the car with my parents, I’ve heard them comment about how when they were kids, they would be wiping insects off the windshield and windows and now, all we’re wiping away is pollen. I’m lucky enough to live in an area where climate change doesn’t effect my food and water, so the signs I see are just warnings of what is going on in other areas of the country and world. 

The reason why climate change is so relevant and important to me is because it is what encompasses us at all hours of our weeks, months, and years. There are so many issues in our world that need to be addressed immediately, but how do we address them if the land we are standing on will be underwater soon and we cannot talk outside because it is just too hot? How can we address issues like poverty without looking at the root of why their homes and food are slipping through their fingers? 

Whoever our future president is, I hope they will not only look at our issues, but the reason behind why they are present, and act on these issues to prevent future loss and damage.  

Image: Getty Images. “A truck parked in front of a large fire photo.” Unsplash, 27 September 2022, https://unsplash.com/photos/a-truck-is-parked-in-front-of-a-large-fire-ITAGEPYIQAA