Climate Change Feature
Things are heating up, and it isn’t good!
Who are you and what is your role?
Hi everyone! My name is Tom Williams, I’m 16 and from
There are six champions in total, coming from all across
How did you get the post?
To get this post, I had to produce a news article or web page on the Earth-shattering effects of climate change. I also had to cover why it’s happening, and what I’m going to do to help my family, friends, school and local community to get involved and be part of the solution. One of the prizes was a trip to
Where do young people come into this?
For a long time now people have said we should act for the sake of ‘our children and our children’s children’, but the fact is, it now lies with us; our generation will start feeling these impacts, and these impacts are real. Ban Ki-moon, the UN General Secretary said that climate change is “the defining challenge of our age.”
As climate change champions, we have a unique angle to use. I think it’s a great idea getting young people on board like us, because today’s young people need to hear the issue, and need to act on the issue; and who better to get through to them, than fellow young persons. It shows that the youth have a voice. We are listening. We realise that there’s a reason to be concerned, and we’re acting, or at least we should be. If we can understand it, so can everyone else, so must everyone else. This world is moving, are you? Don’t be a cause of the problem, be part of the solution. There are so many easy steps we can all take, right now. If I was going to suggest one thing you should do before next time you hear from me it would be: Get better informed and calculate your Carbon footprint on the web ? just type it into Google right now! It will work it out for you and from there you can make short term goals: quick and easy steps to reduce your impact on the planet.
Name some of the events you have already attended
o Our launch at the Senedd, with First Minister Rhodri Morgan, and Environment Minister, Jane Davidson
o Fact-finding expedition to the
o Green Homes and Buildings event in Builth Wells with one of TV’s greenest stars, Dick Strawbridge
o Eco-Schools Awards with BBC weatherman Derek Brockway
o Buried a Time Capsule at
o Gained the support of the Cardiff Blues at the Cardiff Arm’s Park
o Visited the Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT) in Machynlleth
Any events/special days in the next couple of weeks?
I will be at the National Eisteddfod with fellow Climate Change Champion, Adam Amor from
I look forward to seeing some of you there and speaking to you all soon.
Related sites:
new.wales.gov.uk/topics/environmentcountryside/climate_change/champions/?lang=en
CARBON CALCULATOR : http://actonco2.direct.gov.uk/index.html