Hurricanes, wildfires and climatic upheavals are grabbing headlines. For people concerned about climate change, the daunting drumbeat of climate news is alarming. And more so for our children (“93% students want to discuss global issues at school: Study,” March 3, Gulf Today).

Teen activist Greta Thunberg may have sparked the debate but youth all over the globe are more knowledgeable on climate matters than the elders. So it comes as no surprise that a sizeable number of students put climate change as the single most biggest issue facing the world — or their world — today.

As temperatures increase, so do the odds of wildfires, more record-breaking “flooding” and more disruptions in ocean fisheries. Furthermore greenhouse gas emissions are growing like a “speeding freight train” because of our great appetite for oil, while worldwide carbon emissions are expected to increase drastically, instead of dropping.  

And so, environmental agencies and scientists have been urging us to act expeditiously. But as things go, it is a long way off before we are successful in reducing greenhouse gas emissions that warm the planet. Probably before that thousands more lives would have been lost and property worth trillions of dollars damaged.

Despite that I feel encouraged by environmental campaigns organized for young children. To me it is a perfect beginning. If preservation of environment is inculcated in young minds, it will bear fruit in the future. It will make them responsible citizens.

A few days back I came across a report which stated that over 120 participants, including 97 students from three schools in the age group ranging from 7 years to 15 years, participated in the ‘Pick & Grow’ initiative organized by the Sharjah Girl Guides (SGG) in collaboration with the Sharjah Municipality.

Such campaigns make more sense to me than reports prepared by government officials which are not acted upon.

Saleema Nazir
By email