The USA Charter : Youth Charter of Responsibilities

The National Charter : Youth Charter of Responsibilities
Let’s Take Care of the United States of America

We are youth from the United States of America,
involved in Charting the Future : Young People Act on Climate Change.

We recognize the view of people in our community and country who do not see it necessary to change their own lifestyle for the better of the environment and others. We take responsibility for these people’s inaction and have decided to take the responsibility of completing the mandate they have failed to accomplish.

We are therefore assuming the following responsibilities :

1. We take responsibility for finding ways to solve environmental problems because we see our world changing before our eyes.

2. We take responsibility for reducing waste.
 We will cut down on litter in our local community
 We will practice the 5 R’s : rethink, refuse, reduce, re-use, recycle

3. We will educate fellow students, powerful people, and all people in our communities because this world will change slowly but surely.
 We will re-educate others by correcting their actions that hurt the environment.
 We will work to encourage the passage of policies of environmental responsibility in our communities and country.

4. We promise to practice what we preach.
 We will tell others to take action as well as taking action ourselves.
 We will never tell someone to do something that we are not comfortable with ourselves.

5. We take responsibility to ensure as much energy as possible is conserved.
 We take action for being energy efficient in our homes, schools, public buildings and businesses in order to preserve the resources used to power homes and cities.
 We are committed to using CFL or LED lights and Energy Star or other certified energy efficient appliances. Also, we are committed to being more energy efficient in our transportation.

6. We take responsibility for water quality. Water quality is one of the more important factors in a healthy global environment because it connects us to one another. Although parts of the United States have impeccable water quality, there is room for improvement. We take responsibility to raise awareness about the impact of storm water on our inland and marine waterways.
 We will research and educate the community to protect our water.
 We will take action by not dumping foreign debris in the waterways and storm drains and participating in beach sweeps and community clean-ups.

7. We have responsibility to understand how socio-economic factors play a role in the previous six responsibilities. We recognize that there is vast inequity in the environmental quality of different communities in the United States.
 We will do everything in our power to ensure the government upholds its responsibilities regardless of socio-economic status, race, gender or geographic region in regard to environmental justice.

We must fulfill all of the responsibilities listed. If we choose to be inactive, changes will not be made to address problems with the environment. Consequences of inaction would include energy/fuel depletion, high water levels due to melted ice caps, the endangerment and possible extinction of many species due to environmental changes, drought, famine, and the displacement of people.

We invite you to help us take care of our country and communities.