Matthew B., grade 11, Laureate College, a secondary school in Burlington, Ontario
What initiated your interest in climate issues?
My interest in our world's climate issues was mainly initiated through elementary school, more specifically through the introduction of the 17 sustainable development goals. (https://sdgs.un.org/goals)
What is your concern about our climate and what actions are you taking to address climate change? What gives you hope?
My main concern about climate change today is the potential impact it can have on my generation and future generations as we go further in the 21st century. The unpredictable and increasingly severe climate seen in Canada today highlights that climate change is in fact an impactful and urgent global issue. With that said, the severity of climate change will only worsen, emphasizing its significance in society.
While I have contributed to raising awareness towards climate change through making various presentations and writing essays on the matter, I recognize that merely researching and spreading the belief of climate change will not make a single change. Rather, I believe that climate change has already become widely known as a global issue among modern society, and simply “addressing climate change” doesn't really do anything. Rather, utilizing and sharing methods where you can take small, but meaningful action towards climate change is a much more effective method. This includes simple tasks like...
• Trying to save energy and resources at home.
• Walking, cycling, or taking public transport.
• Eating more vegetables, fruits, and whole grains, with less meat and dairy.
These points, although small, if acted upon on a large enough scale can make a true difference towards climate change.
What gives me hope for effectively slowing climate change, is our generation's technological advancements. With the rise of invitations like electric vehicles and various different sources of renewable energy coming to societies across the globe, I'm certain technology will be one of our only hopes towards effectively slowing climate change.
Is there a connection between your faith, your beliefs, and your awareness of, or actions you are taking, in addressing climate issues?
I see myself as a very fair person, and through this I believe that it would be unfair for our generation to simply ignore and abuse the climate, just to throw it to the next generation to also deal with. This connects to why I've invested myself in making various presentations, wrote essays on the matter, and ultimately answered these questions.
