Students urged to "keep getting angry" about climate change

Saturday 16 March 2019

A group of deputies and local environmentalists have signed an agreement, put to them by Guernsey's young people, committing the island to achieving carbon net neutrality by 2030.

Students from all over Guernsey met at the Grammar School yesterday to have a conversation with local leaders about what can and is being done to combat climate change.

The panel, put together to answer the students' questions, was made up of Guernsey Finance Deputy Chief Executive Andy Sloan, Deputy Jane Stephens and Deputy Al Brouard from the Policy and Resources Committee, President of Environment and Infrastructure Deputy Barry Brehaut, E&I committee member Deputy Lindsay De Sausmarez, States Waste Prevention and Recycling Officer Tina Norman-Ross and Biodiversity Education Officer Julia Henney.

The event began with a statement from student James Cleal (17) who organised the event along with his sister Charlotte (16). Mr Cleal then opened the assembly up for questions before asking the panel to sign the document.

Pictured: James Cleal put students' questions to the panel.

Mr Cleal was pleased with how the event went: "So many people have come up to me and talked about how they are going to follow this up personally or, in the case of our deputies having to sign this document. It's great to see that it's not just a one-off but it's going to be something that lasts and has a real impact."

A number of subjects were raised throughout the afternoon including Guernsey's transport services, ecosystems and banning single-use plastic bags.

While responding to a question posed to her by a student, Deputy De Sausmarez suggested there had been a generational inequality: "We are doing things now that your generation is going to have to pick up the bill for." She asked that States Members "throw the kitchen sink" at the problem now, while Deputy Brehaut urged students to "get angry" and "keep getting angry" until more is done to tackle the issue.

Pictured: Executive Headteacher Liz Coffey was impressed by the students' event organisation.

"I thought it was great that the young people put together some voices for action in a really collaborative but also organised way," said Executive Headteacher of the future 11-18 school, Liz Coffey. "They were quietly determined to get on with it and the fact that they got the support so readily from our deputies was really important. It shows how effective it can be to be part of a small community."

Former States Agriculture and Environment Adviser Dr Andrew Casebow said: "We've known about climate change and the effects of emissions for many years and it's quite surprising that the States and people of Guernsey haven't done much about it in the past. I am delighted to hear that the States are now planning to do something about it. We all have to take personal action and personal responsibility for these things otherwise we are in a situation where it is pretty catastrophic!"

Pictured: Former States Agriculture and Environment Adviser Dr Andrew Casebow.

Deputy Stephens added that the event was timed at "absolutely the right moment" ahead of a States debate on energy.