The future is said to be in the next generation’s hands, yet it is up to current lawmakers who decide what happens with it. A proposal from the City of Cedar Rapids has been released that aims to significantly reduce the city’s greenhouse gas emissions. The goal of the plan is to have net-zero emissions by 2050. Having a goal of net-zero emissions means that they aim to have the same amount of greenhouse gases being put into the atmosphere as what is beingtakenout.Theproposalwasfirst presented on September 20 and will soon go before Cedar Rapids’ city council for consideration. This plan has the potential to bring lots of changes to Cedar Rapids. This could reduce the city’s carbon emissions by 45 percent by the year 2030, which aids in the effort to keep the global temperatures below 1.5 degrees Celsius. It would also focus on industries and businesses becoming more environmentally friendly along with improving neighborhoods, by, for example, adding more solar power to the area. Leaders in the city of Cedar Rapids strive for a carbon- free future, energy-efficient living and more renewable, clean power for the people. “Climate change is bringing heavier rainfalls, hotter days and more flooding across Iowa — and extreme weather to every corner of our world. Cedar Rapids is no exception. Our Community Climate Action Plan brings focus to these changing realities,” Cedar Rapids City Manager Jeff Pomeranz and Mayor Brad Hart said. Across the world, this topic is still being discussed at large. On September 29, Swedish activist Greta Thunberg addressed world leaders in Milan, Italy at the Youth4Climate summit. She referenced other world leaders’ speeches, which some call mocking. Her repeated words of the world leaders were considered a call-out towards what she calls “unfulfilled promises.” She took a jab at multiple world leaders in attendance, such as United States’ President Joe Biden, United Kingdom’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson and France’s President Emmanuel Macron. The youth attending this conference speak to world leaders and recommend what actions they could take. Directly addressing the decision-makers of the future of climate change gives those an opportunity to get their opinions to be heard. From there, leaders can look at what their plan is and how it aligns with what was shared with them “We must find a smooth transition towards a low carbon economy. There is no Planet B,” Thunberg said, in a reference to a speech given by French President Emmanuel Macron. “There is no Planet Blah. Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah,” Thunberg said. Another speaker at the conference, Vanessa Nakate, expressed disappointment in world leaders after they failed to keep promises. “In fact, funds were promised by 2020, and we are still waiting,’’ Nakate said. “No more empty conferences. It’s time to show us the money. It’s time, it’s time, it’s time. And don’t forget to listen to the most affected people and areas.” Climate change continues to be a heavily discussed, pressing matter in the world today. To learn more about the Youth4Climate summit, visit www.youth4climate.live.