Climate change at 'forefront' of young minds

Students from three schools gathered to debate climate change and discuss how to reduce carbon emissions locally, in an annual event on Guernsey.

The Great Climate Change Debate, now in its fourth year, was hosted at Ladies' College on 15 January, and brought about 80 students together from Ladies' College, Elizabeth College and the Sixth Form Centre, as well as teachers and politicians.

Polly, 18, one of the debaters at the event, said climate change had been "at the forefront of her mind for a while".

President of policy & resources, Lindsey de Sausmarez said young people were "the decision-makers of the near future".

Climate change "wasn't on its way", it was "here" and we need to "take it seriously" - according to event organiser Dr Karen Marshall, head of science at Ladies' College.

Four motions were debated at the event, with the aim of raising awareness and reducing carbon emissions:

• Public transport should be made free and taxes on cars increased;
• Climate change education should be a core, compulsory subject in all schools
• Only plant-based diets should be offered in canteens;
• "To combat climate change, protesting is more important than making lifestyle changes."

Ladies' College student Polly said it was the younger generations that were going to "inherit" environmental problems, with microplastics and how much is wasted being of real concern.

She supported the idea of climate change becoming part of the curriculum and said "just small changes would make a big impact".

P&R President, de Sausmarez said the increased frequency and intensity of storm events, such as Goretti - which brought 84mph winds, widespread damage and uprooted thousands of trees - brought additional risk.

"It really brought home the force of nature," she said, and how much the island is "really in the firing line".

The P&R President also emphasised action was being taken "on both sides", to mitigate the problem from arising, as well as adapting to climate change.

De Sausmarez said, young people being able to articulate what their views, hopes and dreams were, at such events was, "a powerful tool", "so we can get the decisions right for them, their future and ultimately for Guernsey as a whole".

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