Typhoon Haiyan devastated communities in the Philippines the night before the international climate negotiations of the United Nations began in Warsaw, Poland.

Many are calling it the most powerful typhoon ever to hit land. It left millions without homes and killed thousands. Also, last week, extremely powerful and early tornadoes tore across the Midwest United States, leaving behind death and devastation.

Delegate Nadarev Sano, one of the Philippines’ representatives at this year’s climate negotiations, is easily able to make the connection between our fundamentally altered climate and the increase in the severity and number of extreme weather events.

Sano pledged to fast until the UN conference delivers concrete action to address climate disruption. Thousands of youth, including members of the Sierra Student Coalition, also fasted until the end of the conference in an effort to show solidarity with Sano and those affected by Typhoon Haiyan.

It’s time to step up and acknowledge the climate crisis affecting not only the Philippines or the Midwest U.S., but right here in Maine. The leaders of our state should take talks about climate change seriously and commit to decrease our dependency on coal.

In support, colleges in Maine should divest from coal, and also fossil fuels. We should not be investing, and therefore endorsing, fossil fuel companies that are contributing to devastating disasters like Typhoon Haiyan.

Our colleges and state leaders should show the rest of the United States that Maine is ready to lead so that superstorms don’t become the new normal in Lewiston or anywhere else.

Bo Ra Kim, executive committee chair

Sierra Student Coalition, Bates College, Lewiston