KC Climate Action Coalition hosts summit at JOCO Community College

Photo courtesy of Max Thomas

Climate Action KC hosted a Summit on Sept. 14 at Johnson County Community College. 

Speakers came to inform those attending, especially the younger generation, about climate change and other environmental topics including waste, farming, and public health.

Some of the influential speakers present at the event included Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas, Kansas Representative Sharice Davids and internationally-known researcher on global warming solutions Paul Hawken. They discussed their local and national viewpoints on climate change and what we can do to benefit the ecosystem. The goal was to inform people about how they can make a difference in their everyday lives, for example, reducing waste and being more eco-friendly as a community. 

Established by Roeland Park Mayor Mike Kelly and Shawnee Councilwoman Lindsey Constance in December 2018, Climate Action KC works to reverse greenhouse effects and ensure people are continuing to work on ways to reverse climate change.

Constance and Kelly founded it after researching statistics stating we have 11 years to significantly reduce global greenhouse emissions before it becomes irreversible.

The co-founders have hopes of protecting their children along with the next generation from this global crisis. Kelly, along with Constance, has a daughter as well which was also a big motivator for him.

The coalition itself is compiled of elected officials including local mayors, council members, professors, scientists, environmental specialists and residents who hold meetings and events to collaborate together.

They have already accomplished supporting wind energy at the state level, supporting the transition of municipalities to 100% carbon free energy, and strategically planting native grasses, all working towards cleaning the air and reducing greenhouse emissions.

“[We are thinking of] those practical things that cities can do like the city of Prairie Village to reduce emissions — help draw down carbon from the atmosphere and still have co-benefits for the cities,” Constance said.

While their focus right now is Kansas-based change, they hope their impact will spread nationally and grow to spread a larger influence.

“The idea is for everyone wherever they are in life and whatever their job or role is, how can they have a positive impact,” Constance said.

Constance had the intention that people would leave with a better understanding of the ecosystem around them and be inspired to make a change.

In December, Climate Action KC will be launching a climate action playbook with a structured guide for elected officials to find ideas they can implement to combat climate change. They were also selected as one of four regions in the United States to do a greenhouse gas inventory and climate action plan with the Mid-America Regional Council (MARC) which will tentatively be completed in Sept. 2020.

Senior Margaret Veglahn supports Climate Action KC’s ideas in their goals for the Kansas City area and the fight for climate change. According to Veglahn, it’s difficult to make a global impact on climate change, making it important to have locally-focused groups.

“Anything we can do to reduce our carbon footprint, especially as a local community, I think is really important,” Veglahn said. “Sometimes it feels really hopeless and it’s nice to have something to do and as long as enough people work together, [local actions] can make a significant impact even if it doesn’t feel like it”.

Junior Charlie Birt agrees the local organization is the best way to benefit the environment in the Kansas City area.

“[Doing] what we personally can to benefit our environment [is important],” Birt said. “I think that’s a very big part of why America is so successful as a nation.”

According to Constance, they want to help people realize they can be leaders in the fight for climate change. Students should be thinking about what they can accomplish within their house or what they can do at school. 

Climate KC hoped people leave the Summit with a better understanding of how they can help their environment by participating in even small acts like reducing daily waste that will make a difference in the long run.

“The goal is basically that everyone sees themselves as a leader in whatever capacity,” Constance said.