LocationsClimate Is Changing, So Must We!
July 22, 2024
2024 continues to break temperature records and may become the hottest year on record.
Heatwaves, storms and hurricanes are increasingly affecting people worldwide, urging proactive climate action. One of the most impactful measures we can take is speaking up about climate change and giving young people a voice in this discussion.
Climate education has become mainstream in educational programs around the world. It is aimed at raising awareness of the climate crisis among children and young people, instilling a deep respect for nature from a young age, and developing green skills for the future.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Belarus supports climate education through the Green Schools network, promotion of environmental volunteering, and development of educational materials on climate change.
The video contest “Climate Is Changing, So Must We!” is one of the recent examples of such efforts.
The contest brought in 407 videos made by young people aged 7 to 17 from all over Belarus, covering three main topics:
Climate change in the region;
Clean energy; and
Eco-friendly habits for reducing carbon footprint.
Producing the videos was a creative journey for the participants, evident in the diverse formats they used. The students created animations, conducted interviews, anchored news reports, and staged musical performances. This experimentation resulted in unique stories, each showcasing their imaginative minds.
All videos can be viewed on YouTube using the hashtag #climateboxbelarus. The winners, awarded with special prizes from UNDP, are listed on the rcek.by website.
Creative initiatives like the contest "Climate Is Changing, So Must We!” enable children to express themselves while developing critical thinking skills, essential for understanding complex environmental challenges and finding innovative solutions. At the same time, out-of-the-box approaches make climate education attractive and accessible for all.
The depth and richness of the ideas presented during the contest show that the younger generation understands the seriousness and complexity of the climate crisis and is ready to engage in addressing this global issue.
The contest is organized in partnership with the Ministry of Environment by the Climate Education to Promote the SDGs and Advance the Climate Agenda (Climate Box) project implemented by UNDP in Belarus and funded by the Russian Federation.
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