Climate change is a global issue, largely driven by human activities such as burning fossil fuels and deforestation. A partnership between two schools from India and the United States allowed the opportunity for students to research how climate change affects their countries and what they can do to help. During the end of semester Live Class, students displayed the unstoppable energy of youth in tackling one of the planet’s most critical issues.
A science class from Portland, Oregon focused on the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events in their country. Their presentations explored the impact of climate change on hurricanes, tornadoes, and wildfires. Emphasis was placed on how rising sea levels cause an increase of severe hurricanes which unfortunately cannot be reversed. American students didn’t stop at the alarming fact, information was added to how we can use rising sea levels to our advantage. “Sea level rise cannot be reversed but we can use the water to help endangered species, put out wildfires and droughts, and freeze [the water] for transporting medicine and food.” These students brought to life the challenges their country faces, illustrating how citizens can be prepared for these inevitable natural disasters in order to overcome them.
Meanwhile, their counterparts in India provided a vivid account of climate change’s effects in their own country. While they also touched on the prevention of wildfires and rising sea levels, their presentations expanded to include issues unique to their region, such as prolonged droughts, worsening air pollution, and heatwaves. The students shared government initiatives to address these issues while also informing their peers on relevant solutions for citizens to get involved. While work and school schedule adjustments and healthcare interventions during a heatwave can mitigate short-term effects, avoiding cutting down trees will be more impactful in the long run. Students painted a clear picture of solutions to show how climate change is threatening lives and livelihoods across diverse landscapes.
Through this exchange, the students deepened their understanding of global climate issues while demonstrating the importance of science in fostering solutions. The principal from Oregon remarked, “I want to highlight the importance of open and honest conversations about the state of our natural world, and about the collective responsibility we share in protecting it for future generations. These discussions remind us that no matter where we come from, we are all connected through the challenges and opportunities our planet presents.” Their discussions underscored the urgency of collective action and the unique ability of young people to bring fresh ideas and energy to the fight against climate change. Events like this synchronous virtual exchange remind us that empowering the next generation with knowledge and opportunities for collaboration is key to building a sustainable future.