Written by: Purnille Albertyn – GCBR Intern
As part of Climate Change Awareness and Action Week, the Gouritz Cluster Biosphere Reserve (GCBR) team visited Curro Mossel Bay to engage learners on one of the most pressing challenges of our time: climate change. The GCBR team, Leila Moosajee (Youth Coordinator), Lee-Ann Pretorius (Environmental Officer), and interns Erin Martin and Purnille Albertyn, set out to inspire a deeper understanding of climate change and what can be done to address it.
Learning Through Participation
Leila Moosajee delivered an insightful and engaging presentation on the science of climate change and its far-reaching effects. Around 100 Grade 10 and 11 learners attended the session.
Following the talk, learners were divided into teams of 16 to tackle a lively climate quiz. Some of the questions included:
- Which greenhouse gas is emitted from vehicles?
- Which economic sector is responsible for the largest share of global greenhouse gas emissions?
- What is the Earth’s largest carbon sink?
It was uplifting to see the enthusiasm, teamwork, and thoughtful responses from the students, evidence that young people are ready to be part of the solution.
What is Climate Change?
Climate change refers to long-term alterations in temperature and weather patterns. While natural factors, such as solar cycles and volcanic eruptions, have historically influenced climate variability, the dominant driver of climate change since the Industrial Revolution has been human activity.
Primarily, this stems from the large-scale use of fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas. When burned for energy, these fuels release greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide (CO₂) and methane (CH₄) into the atmosphere. These gases trap heat, intensifying the Earth’s natural greenhouse effect and resulting in global warming.
Carbon dioxide is released through the combustion of fossil fuels in vehicles and power stations, as well as from deforestation and land use change.
Methane is produced in agriculture (particularly livestock farming), as well as by the oil and gas industry and landfills.
The key sectors contributing to global greenhouse gas emissions include energy generation, industry, transport, buildings, agriculture, and land use change (UN, 2023).
A Challenge, and an Opportunity
Climate change represents a major global challenge, but also a powerful opportunity. It urges us to rethink how we live, how we treat one another, and how we care for the natural systems that sustain us.
We all have a role to play, and small actions can add up to significant change. Here are a few steps you can take:
- Choose renewable energy sources like solar or wind where possible.
- Drive less: walk, cycle, or use public transport when you can.
- Recycle and avoid single-use plastics; opt for products with minimal packaging.
- Compost food scraps to reduce organic waste going to landfill.
- Use energy-efficient appliances, turn off lights when not in use, and insulate your home to reduce energy consumption.
The time to act is not in the future, it’s now. And together, through awareness, education, and action, we can build a more resilient and sustainable world.
Reference:
United Nations. (2023). What is Climate Change? Retrieved from: https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/what-is-climate-change