Rachel Fisher, a junior at Lancaster Mennonite School in Pennsylvania, won the grand prize for her essay on climate and peace in Mennonite Central Committee U.S. National Peace & Justice Ministries’ annual public policy essay contest.

Ella Binkley and Olivia Zook, both seniors at LMS, received honorable mentions.

As the top essayist among nine national finalists, Fisher received a grand prize of $1,000. Binkley and Zook each received $250.

In “Peace through Climate Justice,” Fisher examined the relationship between climate change and peace and explained why Anabaptists must take action.

“Conflict can be triggered by climate change,” she wrote, “and global warming can be furthered by conflict. It is our duty to protect the Earth and its ecosystems and care for people around the world.”

Fisher identified how climate change can create and exacerbate issues such as food insecurity, forced displacement and resource scarcity. Highlighting the disparity between emissions and impact, she noted countries in Africa, South Asia and South America are some of the most impacted by climate change but the least responsible for emissions.

Because the countries most affected by climate change often do not have the resources to counter it, Fisher suggested the burden of responsibility should be on the highest polluters. Countries such as the U.S. should contribute to a global fund for supporting projects such as ecosystem rehabilitation and renewable energy.

Zook also tackled the topic of climate and peace in “How Bananas and Imperialism Caused Climate Change.”

Binkley wrote about her teacher’s immigration experience, examining the causes of migration and the challenges immigrants face when entering the U.S.