Whose Planet? Our Planet! Whose Future? Our Future!

As global leaders gathered at the COP26 summit to discuss urgent action on climate change, members of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Youth Committee made a powerful statement of their own by releasing a video, summarising their views on the climate crisis and ways forward.

They hope this will be an important first step in raising awareness among their own generation, and are now looking for opportunities to engage with other young people.

The Youth Committee was founded in spring 2020, with the aim of bringing about positive change, either through working with local councils or undertaking projects to raise awareness of global issues.

Made up of likeminded and passionate young people between the ages of 14 and 25, Members of the Youth Committee were involved in the UNICEF 2020 Outright Campaign to help shed light on the effect climate change will have on children’s rights – an angle they feel is rarely taken by world leaders.

This provided the inspiration for their short film, which is now available to view, alongside their full statement, on the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority’s YouTube channel.

A Youth Committee Member said, “All children have a right to live in safety within a family environment, with access to clean water and a proper education. Climate change threatens these rights for children across the world. As the world warms and areas become hostile to life, many children will become climate refugees and may be separated from their families. Not only this, but climate change will see a rise in child poverty and as a result many children will be forced to live a life no child should have to live. Even now, it is estimated by UNICEF that environmental factors take the lives of 1.7 million children under 5 each year.

“Many children and young people in the UK do not have a clear idea of the effect climate change is having on our generation – we are keen to collaborate with local organisations to help instil an environmental passion in younger generations, giving children and young people the knowledge and skills they need to work towards living a more sustainable future. We believe it vital that all young people are taught about how every action has wider consequences.”

Determined to build on their momentum, Youth Committee Members are now hoping to take their important lesson other young people in Pembrokeshire, and will be contacting schools and youth groups over coming weeks to raise awareness of the film and make suggestions on how it could be used in schools.

Any schools or youth groups interested in getting involved should contact Tom Moses at tommm@pembrokeshirecoast.org.uk.

The video created by the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Youth Committee can be found at:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9piK6Q4Z9k

For more information on the Youth Committee and the Youth Rangers, including how to join, visit https://www.pembrokeshirecoast.wales/next-generation/.