From Delhi’s Pollution to Tucson’s Activism: How One Young Advocate is Combating Climate Change

Last year, the Tucson Unified School District took a big step in the fight against climate change. They adopted an ambitious climate action plan, driven largely by the Arizona Youth Climate Coalition. Ojas Sanghi, a co-leader of the coalition and only 20 years old, shared his thoughts on how his generation views climate activism.

Sanghi pointed out that young people urgently see the need for climate action. Instead of focusing on barriers and costs, like many older adults do, they prioritize solutions. For them, the goal is clear: achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 is non-negotiable.

“What does this mean for us?” he asked. “Every decision should prioritize saving the environment.”

In October, the school district approved a comprehensive climate action resolution, committing to net-zero emissions by 2040. The plan includes targets like 100% clean energy by 2030 and a fully electric bus fleet by 2035.

But what are emissions? Sanghi explained that emissions come in three scopes. Scope one covers direct emissions from school buses using fossil fuels. Scope two refers to emissions from purchased energy, like that from Tucson Electric Power (TEP), which still relies heavily on coal and gas. Scope three is broader, including emissions from the entire supply chain, such as food production and waste.

Currently, the district has a mix of electric and diesel buses. Though they’ve pledged to transition to electric, they also approved funding for new diesel buses. This raises questions about balancing immediate needs with long-term goals.

As for costs, Sanghi mentioned that a detailed climate action plan is in the works, which will include a cost-benefit analysis. Past research in other U.S. school districts shows that savings from clean energy often outweigh the initial investment.

Despite local progress, Sanghi expressed disappointment over national trends against climate action. “It’s disheartening,” he said. “But local initiatives can drive meaningful change even when national efforts stall.”

Reflecting on his childhood in polluted India, Sanghi shared how severe air quality affected daily life. "It felt like I was harming my lungs with every breath," he recalled. This firsthand experience shaped his understanding of environmental issues and highlighted the importance of clean air and healthy surroundings.

To learn more about climate action in education and its economic impacts, check out the U.S. Department of Energy’s report on clean energy benefits.

In summary, the actions in Tucson represent a hopeful trend for the future, where younger generations push for immediate climate solutions, bringing urgency to a global challenge.

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