Now more than ever, the words ‘climate change’ generate a spectrum of different opinions and ideas. Fingers pointing the blame everywhere, some holding only the wealthy and elite responsible, whilst others towards all of humanity. However, none more extreme than those who completely deny that climate change is a problem or a concern at all. 

Between the 31st October - 12th November, the annual COP26 (UN climate change conference of parties) will take place in Glasgow where world leaders will be able to present their plans for the Paris Agreement. This is a very crucial meeting to ensure that global temperatures do not rise above 1.5 degrees celsius. As a young person who is aware that climate change will have an impact on my generation’s future, I believe it is important for people of all ages to advocate for real change. I decided to interview people of different ages and generations to discover some contrasting ideas and thoughts on this topic. These are the ones that stood out the most to me.

 

My first interviewee was Vipul Patel, a 48 year old man who has some interesting and thoughtful perspectives. I asked him about his thoughts on the changing condition of the planet and how he thinks climate change should be resolved. He responded:

“I think there is a big difference in how people live in the western countries and the lifestyle of those in other countries. As I grew up in India during the 1980’s, we were forced to live as sustainable as possible. We reused worn out clothes as cleaning cloths, we took lunch from home anywhere we went and we travelled most places by walking.”

 Vipul further explained that it was only until he moved to England when he first engaged in a consumerism lifestyle and began making unsustainable choices. 

“ If people just lived a much simpler life, perhaps not relying so much on their cars, then I’m sure that the world would be just fine. They should teach these sort of things at school so everyone knows.” 

 

My next interviewee was Kian O’reilly, a 7 year old boy who knows not much climate change but his morals are in the right place. I asked him what he thinks humans should do to help keep the planet clean, his response was “all humans should pick up their litter and people who litter should get punishments after being warned.” I then asked him whose fault it is that the world is in such a critical state, he quickly replied “definitely the government,”why might that be I ask, “because they are the ones who are suppose to be protecting us.”

 My last question to Kian was, why should we save the planet and fight climate change? He says, “because we all live here and cannot live anywhere else!” 

 

My last interviewee was Savannah Wilson, a 13 year old girl who knows an adequate amount about climate change, mostly from social media. I asked her why the fight against climate change is so important right now, she answered, 

“Its better to act right now because I don't want to be living in fear for my future children’s lives. If we carry on being irresponsible then the future generations will not be able to live a normal life. I don't want the blame for not acting soon enough so everyone should be part of the change.”

 

I was delighted to see such positive feedback from the interviews and this shows me that not all hope is lost when it comes to preserving our world. 

 

If we care for our future generations, our kids and grandkids and so on, then we should not be giving them a damaged world to grow up in. The fight against climate change is not a chance for us to show performative activism, our involvement is a necessity. Living sustainably is the best we could do as an individual, but in the long term it is our governments who have the power to implement large scale sustainable development. The consequences are already taking place so do not feel useless in this fight. Write a letter to an MP, join a local environment club, perhaps choose more plant based meals or even just cycle to work. Small changes add up.