At just 17-years-old, one can already imagine Arjun Marwaha running for office. The climate activist is as passionate about earth as he is raising awareness about it, especially to other young people. It’s why he wrote the book Our Changing Earth: Why Climate Change Matters to Young People.
“I’ve really just gone into climate change and activism largely because of the inaction in the current government, but I think for me, I’ve actually really enjoyed writing the book itself, too, in terms of really researching the scientific effects on human health,” the teen told So Booking Cool. “I think with those new threats that we’ll be facing in the future, I’ve really found a calling for myself to go towards a more scientific route…putting myself out there, trying to help prevent human health illnesses that are bound to come as a result of climate change.”
Marwaha became interested in climate change in October 2017 after there was a fire near his home. Since then, he’s become a student of weather and climate change and finding solutions for the earth. He came in 2nd place in the Yale Scientific Magazine National Essay Competition, in which he discusses a prototype that mitigates climate change. According to the World Health Organization, a quarter million people each year will lose their lives to climate change.
When asked what he thinks the government can do to make more of a difference towards climate change, Marwaha says it is important to acknowledge the ones who are currently doing so. “First of all, it’s important to know that we have a few people who are trying to make a difference currently in the government, quite notably Alexandria Oscasio-Cortez, with her green new deal.”
Listen to the interview to learn more about Marwaha, young people and climate change, the time he met with Congressman Raja Krishnamoorth, his climate change inspirations including Greta Thunberg and Leonardo DiCaprio, how his school reacted when they learned he was an author, how young people can make a difference when it comes to climate change, as well as his thoughts on what the government can do more of to help.
For more information, visit Marwaha’s official website. All sale proceeds for Our Changing Earth are donated to non-profit organizations that are working to mitigate the effects of climate change.