Hello readers! After just four months as one of Wales’ first Climate Change Champions, I have been appointed an International Climate Champion (ICC) and an expedition to Japan has been planned for me.


I was recently given the title ICC, to represent the UK as well as Wales on the subject of Climate Change. I am one of 39 ICCs in the world and in May we will go to Kobe, Japan to lobby the G8+5 environment ministers on one of the ‘Kobe Challenges’.


These are goals that these ministers should propose their country take up so as to educate people on and tackle the global problem of climate change.


Kobe Challenges are special as young people are allowed to vote on which one they would like to see occur across the world.


There are three challenges and they can be voted on at www.britishcouncil.org/climatechampions by young people so their voice can be heard.


There is also a YouTube page dedicated to us just search for ‘Champions4Change’ and you can see your three British ICCs as well as the three representing the other 12 countries in action in London in talks about what the Kobe Challenges should be.


The countries that are represented are Canada, Italy, France, Germany, Russia, Japan, India, Brazil, South Africa, China, Mexico, USA and the UK. This project shows that something is being done by the public and especially by the true agents of change, the youth.


Until this year, we didn’t have a voice on what our world will be like when we are adults but now only in the first half of the year; we have agents in the inner circle of the most powerful countries on the planet.


That is a massive change and is a hope for the future. Next time, I will reveal the progress that the ICCs made in Japan.



James’ Top Tip
In school, at work or at home, when you want to print something off, ask yourself if you really need to.


If so, why not try printing back to back? By doing this you could reduce energy costs, toner costs as well as save reams of paper.

Hello Readers! During mid-March, the Chancellor Alistair Darling released the widely reported ‘green budget’. This month, my column will follow how it affects the environment of Wales and the United Kingdom.


You would have noticed when you’ve shopped in supermarkets over the past few weeks how differing rules now apply to plastic carrier bags. This was implemented because if not enough voluntary action was taken by retailers then a tax would be imposed on their use.


Around 13 billion plastic carrier bags are handed out at the tills of 21 retail groups, including the main supermarkets, in Britain each year. Calculations show that 5kg of carbon emissions will be saved for each person who stops using plastic bags for a year. While you are in the supermarket, buying products with the least amounts of packaging will lower your shopping’s carbon footprint even further.


Another policy seen that affects all families is the increase of fuel duty in October 2008.


The idea is that more people will car share or use more efficient vehicles to save on this tax. Drivers of these more efficient vehicles will be rewarded by having cheaper car tax.


This will lead to lower carbon emissions by Wales and the UK, slowing the effects of climate change. People who car share can save up to £1000 per year.


The government is to hold discussions on what is needed to put more renewable energy sources in place.


The UK is currently working towards a long-term goal of reducing CO2 emissions by at least 60% by 2050 and this may rise to 80% due to the UK’s signing of an international agreement.


We do not have to conform to what the government says, we can all do more in everyday lives to tackle carbon emissions at grass roots level. Climate change is one of the biggest challenges facing the world but we each have the chance to make a difference.



Top Tip: When you buy your tea bags (carried home in a reusable carrier bag!), only boil the water you need. If everyone did this we’d save enough energy to supply 18,000 homes each year.

THIS month Caerphilly Climate Change Champion James Fletcher takes a trip to Holland to find out how the Dutch deal with conserving the environment.
Here is his latest report on his year long climate champion journey.


"Hello readers! This month's edition of my blog will follow my expedition to the Netherlands as Climate Change Champion. Holland is famous for its windmills - both old and new. The group along with the nine champions from England visited the Q7 wind-park 12 miles offshore.


"We braved gale force seven winds and various bouts of sea sickness to visit the park and learn how renewable energy such as wind power accounts for a total of 6 percent of the energy usage in the Netherlands. We also visited the famous GeWoonBoot - a 'carbon neutral' houseboat in the heart of the regenerated industrial shipping yard which aims to reuse the old by creating artwork out of the old buildings and contents of the ship yard. Apart from my exploration of the various shopping centres in the capital by far my favourite part of the expedition was meeting dignitaries in the seat of government of the Netherlands, The Hague. Here we met the British Ambassador to The Hague, the Dutch Minister for Europe and the Dutch Director of International Environmental Affairs.


"During our reception at the British Embassy and the Ambassador's Official Residence we discussed the similarities and differences of the policies on climate change held by the Netherlands, Wales and England - and not a Fererro Rocher in sight! Hopefully our county, Wales and the whole of the United Kingdom will follow the lead of the Netherlands where 0 percent of rubbish goes to landfill compared to our 85 percent. That's it for this month readers. Next month I will report on how the Caerphilly County Borough Council has been educating primary and secondary school children in our local area how to lower their carbon footprint and become better citizens of the world. Remember the best way to change others is to change yourself!!"

James' top tip


"The Dutch use their bikes to go everywhere. Cycling is one of the few carbon neutral means of transport which means that the amount of harmful gases it emits is negligible. Why don't you try it on short journeys?"

Hi readers.

My name is James Fletcher, I am 16 and currently attend the sixth form at Lewis School in Pengam.

Welcome to my column which I will be writing every month. Why? Well on 21 January 2008 I was announced of one of six young Climate Change Champions for Wales .

The press launch was conducted at the Welsh Assembly¹s Senedd Building in Cardiff Bay. Among the VIPs at the event were First Minister Rhodri Morgan and Environment Minister Jane Davidson. I secured my role as a ŒChampion¹ by submitting a newspaper report on how my school and friends could reduce their carbon footprint. I then attended the semi-final stage interviews in Cardiff and was lucky enough to be accepted as one of the Œsustainable six¹.



This monthly column will follow what your local ambassador will be doing to help both adults and children to reduce the size of their carbon footprint. Firstly, let me explain the term Œcarbon footprint¹. This is the amount of carbon dioxide that your everyday actions leak into the atmosphere. One good example is that washing your clothes at 30oC rather than 40oC will save around 350,000 tonnes of carbon emissions ­equal to the amount released if someone drove around the Earth 5000 times!

After reading this column make sure you recycle the newspaper. It could be made into kitchen towels, toilet tissue or even next month¹s edition of the column!

This month I will start my year-long journey as one of the six Welsh champions. In the February half term, I will be travelling to The Netherlands. This will be a chance to bring the ideas from one of the best countries for sustainable development back to Wales.

Thank you for reading the first edition of my column and I look forward to telling you all about Amsterdam next month.

James' Top Tip:

Try to install at least three energy saving lightbulbs in your home. If everyone in Wales did this, we¹d save around £10million on our electricity bills each year.