Kobe or bust (From Campaign Series)

Kobe or bust

3:23pm Sunday 20th April 2008

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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.

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