Gabriella Schuetz
A local student has a high aim for her senior project — persuade the city of Columbus to pass a resolution regarding climate change.
Columbus East High School senior Gabriella Schuetz gave a presentation regarding this endeavor to Columbus City Council on Tuesday night. Schuetz is the co-founder of East’s Environmental Club and plans to major in environmental science and public policy at Indiana University.
Her goal is for the city to adopt a “climate resolution.” She said that 10 Indiana cities have already passed resolutions — including Indianapolis, Carmel and Bloomington — and young people such as herself have been leading the charge.
Columbus should “join the fight,” said Schuetz, and not fall further behind. She noted that Purdue’s Indiana Climate Change Impacts Assessment has projected that Bartholomew County will see a 16% increase in spring rainfall in the 2050s (as compared to years past) that poses the risk of increased flooding in local communities.
Environmental issues are especially damaging to those in poverty, she added.
“Children and youth or anyone living in poverty is more exposed to breathing in environmental toxins, as well as living in more polluted areas, more contaminated water or soil in those areas, as well as less access to nutrition,” said Schuetz. “So these children are the future of our town. … It is important that we do not stand idly by.”
Schuetz’s proposal included the creation of a sustainability commission, outreach to the community about environmental issues, the addition of “C” bike racks at Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. schools, tracking emissions more regularly, solar-powered lamp posts and water bottle refill stations along the People Trails, more recycling bins around town and at events, and the city’s acknowledgement that climate change is a “serious emergency that requires immediate action.”
She added that the city wouldn’t have to pay all of the costs immediately or on its own; others could get involved as well, such as more seniors raising funds for their own projects.
Schuetz told city council members that she’s spent about 50 hours on her project and not only worked with East’s Environmental Club but also spoken with the clubs at North and CSA New Tech. She has also worked with the organization Earth Charter Indiana.
“This is very widespread and certainly has been a youth-led process,” she said. “And kids in this town specifically that I’ve worked with want this to be passed. I’ve talked to many of you to ensure this is beneficial for the city and that it will create a greener city.”
Councilwoman Grace Kestler thanked Schuetz for her presentation.
“I think it’s really important to keep these things on the forefront of our mind,” she said. “… I definitely think there’s some, from my opinion, some of the easier low-hanging fruit — for lack of a better phrase — including this possible sustainability commission. I think, if we’re going to be serious about it, we have to start being serious about it.”
