We recently delivered short modules on ‘Climate Change and Energy Efficiency’ in North Fulham to children aged 9 to 10 years old. The children showed an interest and enthusiasm for the topic that was uplifting and inspiring. As we taught and discussed, the questions they asked showed that they understand the issue and its gravity. On the topic of renewable energy, they expressed genuine surprise when told that this was still the smallest part of our energy provision. Also and very importantly they were keen to be doing what they can in order to tackle the issue. They took realistic pledges for their age: mostly to switch off lights when leaving rooms and turning off their electrical items instead of leaving it on standby. Collectively and through these small steps, the children should save 1720 kg each year.
With regards to the challenge posed by climate change this is rather small but it illustrates a real motivation to be part of the solution. And these children are right to be concerned as they are the ones that will suffer from it.
We, as adults, know that industrialisation has created the problem of climate change. This is now widely accepted by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and governments around the world. More worryingly, there is also consensus among the climate scientists that in the very near future, the impacts of climate change will be well settled: drought, water scarcity, biodiversity loss and negative feedback on CO2 leading to runaway climate change* . We, as adults, also know that they are solutions to this problem: technological, political and behavioural. However, stuck in the old way of short term thinking and economic priority, we seem unable to deliver and allow those solutions to reach their full potential.
Ten year old children are clearly keen to act and able to see that an energy efficient, less wasteful world that respects its environment is the way forward. Surely, as adults, we should show that we get it too because we must act now if we want to avoid the worst. And let’s not forget that it is those same children that will judge us on our response to this challenge and how effectively we tackled it.
* International Scientific Congress on Climate Change
By Jerome Veriter
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