My hometown is located on the coast of Maine. Rising sea levels directly threaten my home, and many houses within a mile of my home have flooded during hurricane seasons. Witnessing repeated floods and power outages over the years sparked anxiety about the security of my future and future generations to come. The Gulf of Maine is warming faster than 99.9% of the world’s oceans, which is disrupting the seasonal migration of endangered right whales and affects other species in the food chain. I feel that it is our duty to protect the land, people, and biodiversity so we can pass natural beauty and security on to our children and grandchildren to come.
