Last week we had the pleasure of welcoming Greta (aged 16) onto our team for a week of work experience. Greta helped us set up a Climate Change workshop for the St George’s Church parishioners, deliver our Green Meadows Voices newsletter and even wrote about her own personal experience with climate action to inspire other young people in the Meadows.

Here is a Q&A to find out more about her, and her journey with Climate Action, so far.

Q: When did you first become aware of Climate Change?

A: My mum tells me I cared about nature from a young age. I used to pick up worms and snails that were drying up on pavements and put them near some earth. My school and parents played an important role in helping me understand and value the natural world. Later, I realised climate change was having a devastating impact on the environment and this was on a global scale. My understanding was deepened by documentaries such as “Climate Change: The Facts” by David Attenborough. We see evidence of climate change in natural disasters of increasing intensity, and it is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.

*Greta, left, attending a School Strike for Climate march*

Q: When did you first become involved in Climate Action?

A: Me and three of my friends were at the first global strike for climate on the 15th of March 2019. We made banners and stood with a small group of other children. It was encouraging to see many likeminded people come together and express similar frustrations around the lack of action towards climate change. Greta Thunberg had given new life to a movement which I was happy to be a part of. The act of protesting represents the collective belief in a cause. Being active also reduces the sense of anxiety around climate change as you feel you are doing something.

Q: What is an issue that interests you the most and why?

A: A survey before COP26 said that 3/4 of the adult population were either ‘very’ or ‘somewhat’ worried about the impact of climate change. However, a sense of apathy has settled on many as they don’t think they are part of the solution. A Harvard study by Erica Chenoweth found that once a movement reaches 3.5% of a population it has a high chance of becoming successful. Involvement may range from writing emails and signing petitions to protests and civil disobedience. This tangible goal makes the solution less hopeless as the tipping point is not very high and therefore attainable.

Q: What have you changed in your lifestyle with awareness of climate change?

A: At home we never ate much meat but after learning about the impact some foods had on the environment, I decided to become a vegetarian on Boxing Day 2020. I also try to cut back on dairy with the aim (maybe) to become vegan. I began to buy most of my clothes second hand, especially after the first lockdown when the charity shops were overflowing with donations. I got back on my bike to cycle to school along with my friends in the first lockdown.

Q: What would you recommend others do?

A: Some of the most effective things we can do on a personal level are quite easy! For example:

Buy clothes second hand and donate to charity shops
Cycle/walk short distances instead of using the car
Buy a reusable water bottle
Eat less meat e.g., have a few meat free meals every week
Turn the heating down and putting on your onesie!

Great ideas to change the way we tackle climate change come from individuals just like Greta. If you have something you would like to share on our blog, email admin@greenmeadows.uk with your ideas!