The climate crisis threatens to upend the daily lives of citizens across the entire globe. Yet, that doesn't mean that we can't make a difference here in York. One overlooked yet influential contributor to global warming is the planet's loss of surface reflectivity– known as albedo– and even small towns like our own can play a role in disrupting its negative effects.

Albedo is the measure of reflectivity within a surface. The higher albedo a surface has, the more sunlight it reflects out of the Earth’s atmosphere and back into space. Light-colored surfaces like ice, snow, and white roofing materials reflect more sunlight, while dark-colored surfaces like asphalt and traditional roofing materials absorb more sunlight.  

In cities and towns, this is a real problem. Modern urban and suburban landscapes alike are dominated by dark-colored roads, buildings, and infrastructure, which absorb more heat. As a result, outdoor and indoor temperatures can become higher, worsening the effects of heatwaves and driving up cooling costs. 

On the global scale, increased temperatures have led to a decrease in snow and ice, which has led to a decrease in the planet's reflectivity. As the planet becomes less reflective, a greater amount of sunlight is absorbed, which in turn heats the planet even more. This is the vicious cycle that will continue to harm our communities if action is not taken. 

But there is a way we can help, right here in York: we can paint our roofs white. It may sound simple, but white roofs can have a drastic impact on the environment– locally and globally. White roofs can reflect as much as 90% of sunlight. On a hot summer day, they are 50 to 60 degrees cooler than a traditional dark roof. Additionally, they can cut cooling energy use by as much as 40%. Best of all, white roofs can be inexpensive and easy to implement.

As the planet continues to warm and albedo levels decrease, the time is now to make a simple yet effective change. We are calling on the York Town Hall to approve and support a reflective roofing initiative. This initiative is not calling for immediate, large-scale changes across the town. Instead, it proposes a small, low-cost pilot project– painting a single 10 x 10 foot white square on a dark roof or paved surface– to measure real-world temperature and cooling differences over time. This controlled approach would allow the Town of York to evaluate the effectiveness of reflective surfaces using local data before considering any broader action.

We cannot wait. No town, including York, will be spared from the climate crisis. Let’s make York a model for smart, science-based climate action. Sign this petition to help us create a cooler, more reflective community– one surface at a time. As a York High School student passionate about climate solutions, I’ve created this petition to help York demonstrate the new standard of innovation and sustainability. With your help, we can be trailblazers for a cooler future. 

Note: If you are a resident of York, Maine, please mention it in a comment when signing — your voice carries extra weight locally!

This petition is organized by The Reflect Initiative, a local youth-led climate think-tank organization. Together, we’re working to bring impactful change to our community and beyond.

To learn more about our mission, visit https://thereflectinitiative.carrd.co/