Students attend climate change awareness events
STUDENTS who took part in a recent climate change event have agreed that it is never too late to join hands and pool efforts to curb the impacts of environmental degradation.
“Human activities play a big part in causing global warming. Therefore, we have to demonstrate our responsibility to curb the problem. It’s time and solutions exist,” a student representative told a seminar during Climate Diplomacy Day last Wednesday.
The seminar was part of activities for student representatives who participated in the event held under the theme “Your Choice to Make a World of Difference”.
The event was jointly organised by the British, German and French embassies and a European Union delegation and staged at Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Engineering.
Its objective was to raise awareness on climate change in light of the United Nations meeting in Paris for the 21st Conference of Parties of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, which is known as COP 21.
French Ambassador Thierry Viteau, EU minister-counsellor Luisa Ragher and Faculty of Engineering dean Bundhit Eua-arporn were present at the Bangkok event.
Three Bangkok schools – Chaopraya Wittayakom, Watsungwej and Trimit Witthayalai – also joined the activity.
At the event, a “selfie” contest was organised to motivate students to get engaged in environmental protection. The contestants were required to submit a selfie photo also featuring Bangkok’s environment.
“I want to raise awareness and change people’s attitude towards the concept of nature and climate change as, in the end, humans are to benefit the most,” said Krongkrew Macram, a student from Watsungwej School, who won first prize in the contest.
Chonna Raksapan, who was awarded third prize, explained why she chose to feature a polluted canal in her photo.
“It is the canal where I walk by every day. The canal has been left in such a [bad] condition for years. That is why I opted for that place, particularly to underscore the urgent need to improve the water condition,” she said.
At the same event, students engaged in activities related to the issue of climate change such as a sand art show and a video presentation on 60 solutions for climate change.
“I’ve learnt more about the impact of climate change on our daily life,” said Sitigorn Ser-jime, a student from Chaopraya Wittayakom School.
The French ambassador highlighted the need for the participation of all stakeholders, from local levels to the national level, in the move to curb environmental degradation. “As a world citizen, climate change is a matter that transcends borders, affecting every walk of life,” said Viteau.
He said similar activities had been held at other universities in Bangkok and other provinces such as Kasetsart University in the capital and Naresuan University in Phitsanulok.
This is part of the campaign to raise awareness on the issue, Viteau told The Sunday Nation.
EU minister-counsellor Ragher emphasised the need for people in general to be aware of the issues of climate change, the sole purpose of the EU’s “climate diplomacy”.
