Our Environment: COP29 and Carbon Literacy

This week sees the start of the two-day World Leaders Climate Action Summit at COP29. Many leaders across the world have joined in Baku, to launch the event this week. COP29 offers a great opportunity for national leaders to raise the issue of climate and highlight the importance of making a change.

So far UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell has expressed that “We are a long way from halving emissions this decade but wins on carbon markets here at COP29 will help us get back in that race." A key focus in the 29th Conference of the Parties will be on finance, as trillions of dollars are required for countries to drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect lives and livelihoods from the worsening impacts of climate change.

Credit: BBC

All the way in South Yorkshire, we are also holding talks and raising awareness. This week Barnsley College are taking part in the Carbon Literacy Movement. Carbon Literacy is a term used to describe an awareness of climate change, and the climate impacts of mankind’s everyday actions. This year the college has created a schedule to help involve all the students. This includes activities like Development goals game, performative pieces, and a Climate Café to help manage feelings and emotions towards sustainability.

We spoke to Sasha Beswick, Head of Sustainability at Barnsley College. She expressed the importance of busting carbon myths, “Not passing the blame in terms of sustainability”. This includes removing the attitude that is “Why should we do something when the government isn’t”. We all need to come together and fight this issue instead of passing the blame.

The Climate issue is an ever-important matter, and it is necessary that the message of what we can do is spread from COP29 in Baku, to colleges across the country.

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