Welcome to The Regenerators.
Everyone needs to work together to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Climate change is a huge problem and all of us 鈥 governments, businesses and citizens 鈥 need to work together to tackle the climate crisis.
To limit global temperature rise to 1.5掳C, we need to cut our emissions in half by 2030 and reach net-zero by 2050. As of June 2021, 59 countries (which produce 54% of global greenhouse gas emissions) have pledged to go net-zero by 2050, including the UK.
Businesses also have a huge responsibility to transform the way they work to keep the global temperature to below 1.5掳C.
Sometimes it can feel impossible to believe you, as an individual, have influence over how environmental issues like climate change are addressed. But it is possible and it鈥檚 been done before. Hear from a group of young people how they are trying to drive change in their communities.
How can you have a say and make a difference?
Hear from a group of young people about how you can press for environmental change and hold people in power accountable.
Charlotte: Politician backs out of Paris climate agreement. Government reveals plans to open Cumbrian coal mines. When we hear these headlines, it seems like it's all happening far away and that our voices don't count.
But it is possible to have your say and make a difference.
While many governments and companies have committed to net zero by 2050, it's still important to speak up to make sure that they're held accountable and can be pressed to further an additional change.
Amy: When I first started campaigning, I wrote to my MP asking to put a tax on plastic bags as part of a campaign and a year later, that was just what happened. It wasn't just my email, it was the collective impact of loads of different people just like you and me having their voice heard, so it's really important that you write about issues that you care about because it does actually make a big difference.
Charlotte: Trying to engage your local leader as effectively as possible can be really difficult.
Alicia: The approach is very, very important.
Charlotte: And it really helps to try and understand where they're coming from and what their priorities are.
**What I would recommend is to always come prepared. For example, if you're going to go on an online call, it's best if you have your questions ready and that way you don't kind of lose track during the meeting and you go in with a plan of what you want to say.
Amy: If you've noticed a company is doing something that's not very sustainable, then reach out to them, let them know. Let them know that you care as a consumer because that has huge power to change the way a company behaves.
Nayan: Social media is one of, if not the best way to share information and make our feelings and worries public today.
Alicia: I found a lot of influential campaigners that literally have all the links in their bio to every survey, every toll, every single thing that you could need or imagine.
Charlotte: Also, you can video yourself or upload videos of you talking about things, or you can even write essays or short paragraphs with your opinions on. Donate to Go Fund Me accounts if they're campaigning about these things or trying to raise money and awareness. And on , they do have a lot of petitions that they're trying to bring to the government's attention, so I'd definitely get involved with that.
Amy: Some things have to come from the top and that's something that we can feel powerless to do something about. But we as individuals, can make a difference by having our voice heard.
Alicia: I'm kind of a baby in this field, but my voice it matters and so does yours.
Work with your MPs or local leaders
See something you'd like to change? Find out who can make the decision to help you realise your vision. For example, if you would like to prevent an oak tree in your neighbourhood from being cut down, the person who is most likely to make that decision is your local councillor or MP rather than the Prime Minister.
Before approaching them, try to look into what their view might be on the issue or what issues they are prioritising. You can then write an email or letter to them describing why you feel it鈥檚 an important topic for them to care about and how it relates to their priorities.
Prepare a winning pitch
If you do get a chance to speak with the decision makers directly, make sure you鈥檙e prepared. Be clear about what messages you want them to take away from the conversation. You don鈥檛 have to have the answer to everything, but having a good idea as to what you do and don鈥檛 know can help you build your confidence.
The conversation is also an opportunity for you to hear from them and understand them a bit more, so take the time to think about what you would like to find out. Charlotte Boggon, a Young Trustee at (Young People's Trust for the Environment), suggests that you should have your questions ready so you don鈥檛 lose track during the meeting.
Use your power as a consumer
Some brands have made changes to their business practices to be more sustainable, and it is often driven by their consumers. Sisters Ella and Caitlin McEwan from Southampton were 10 and eight years old when, in 2019, they petitioned for the plastic toys in children鈥檚 meals from Burger King and McDonald鈥檚 to be replaced with more eco-friendly ones.
Their petition received over half a million signatures, and, as a result, Burger King UK changed their policy so that they no longer give away plastic toys with children's meals.
This shows that we all have power as consumers to influence our favourite companies or brands to look after the environment.
Use social media for good
More and more youth environmentalists are turning to social media as a way to raise awareness, organise, meet other young people and to spark conversations about climate change. There are many different ways you can use social media for good.
You can start by sharing your thoughts or feelings about the environment, share statistics or reports from credible sources, or simply follow other young people who you want to learn from. The aim isn't to get as many likes or followers as possible 鈥 it鈥檚 about harnessing the power of the internet to be inspired and help others look at the world differently. The conversations you have on social media all add up to help tackle climate change.
Your voice matters
Not seeing 鈥榬esults鈥 yet? Driving change often takes time. What's more important is that you keep using your voice and continue to build the confidence that you can make a difference.
If you鈥檙e stuck on a problem, why not ask your friends or family to help you? They may be able to suggest some ideas to get you started.
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