Elisa Morgera, a UN special rapporteur on climate change, visited Bright's P-12 College in northern Victoria to engage in a Q&A session with students, many of whom expressed concerns about climate change and the future of recreational activities like skiing. Morgera emphasized the need for a safe transition away from fossil fuels and the importance of considering human rights issues in the development of renewables.
A United Nations special rapporteur on climate change visited Bright's P-12 College to be grilled on climate change by students. Research has found 89 per cent of Australian children aged 12 and 13 say climate change is something we should worry about.
"Will we still be able to ski in the future? " These were the burning questions from students at Bright P-12 College in north-east Victoria during a visit by Elisa Morgera. As the UN special rapporteur on climate change, Professor Morgera travels the world as an independent expert on climate-related human rights issues.
"Children are very interested about what we can do about it and how much we can go back or move towards a safer climate," Professor Morgera said. "I think that's a really crucial question because often in the media, even in public discourse, we might get a sense that we're doomed, and that's not the reality.
" Professor Morgera told the students that evidence supported a move away from fossil fuels, but that switching to renewables needed to be done without affecting people's human rights. "What I've been seeing around the world about renewables is that there is a push to do it fast and cut red tape," she said.
"Renewables shouldn't be developed at the expense of anyone's human rights, and there's so much potential for renewables to fulfil the needs that have been left behind by the fossil fuel-based economy. "So, making sure everyone has equal access to energy, that energy is compatible with agriculture and water protection; we have all the science to do that, but we need good processes where we take the time to talk to everyone.
"Professor Morgera was invited to meet some of the students who had participated in a series of University of Melbourne educational videos calledLily O'Neill, the video co-producer and a parent at Bright P12 College, said the idea came about when her son had unanswered questions after being evacuated from the Bright area during bushfires. Dr O'Neill said she was often asked if the students were "put up" to ask specific questions.
"And I say, 'You don't spend very much time with primary school kids', because they ask the best questions," she said. "They are not embarrassed about what they should or shouldn't know and they get right to the heart of the issue. "Research by academics from Australian National University shows 89 per cent of Australian children aged 12 and 13 say climate change is "probably" or "definitely" something we should worry about.
"We try and use humour, and we're very hopeful, because we're really mindful we don't want to scare little kids," she said. Year 4 student Hazel Pike said she was optimistic something could be done about climate change.
"We're causing this climate change to happen, and we need to fix this, and I reckon we can. ""Some people made a whole bunch of mistakes, and now the future generations have to deal with it," she said.s worry was about a future without skiing. "It's scary because there's, like, it's basically, like, the bigger countries are the ones who are making all the climate change, like, happen and then the smaller countries are getting hit for it. "
Please follow us on Google to support us Climate Change Youth Concerns UN Special Rapporteur On Climate Change Bright's P-12 College Northern Victoria Sustainable Development Fossil Fuels Renewable Energy
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
John Safran Special: A Scattershot Documentary on Free Speech and the Right to OffendThe documentary features a number of controversial figures, including a holistic healer, a neo-Nazi leader, a TikTok-famous sex worker, an exorcist, and a puppeteer who specializes in contorting the penis. It explores the line between free speech and hate speech in the context of current social issues.
Read more »
CSIRO cuts climate research jobs, despite budget funding boostNinety-two scientists will lose their jobs in the latest round of cuts, which one scientist warns will leave the agency’s capacity to predict climate change “running on a dial-up modem”.
Read more »
Australia's National Science Agency Confirms Job Cuts Affecting Climate Modelling and Research TeamAustralia's CSIRO, the national science agency, has confirmed 92 job cuts, with the majority coming from environment and climate modeling teams. The cuts had first been foreshadowed in November and were made public after consultations with staff and stakeholders.
Read more »
CSIRO cuts climate research jobs, despite budget funding boostNinety-two scientists will lose their jobs in the latest round of cuts, which one scientist warns will leave the agency’s capacity to predict climate change “running on a dial-up modem”.
Read more »