The 2025 United Nations Climate Change Conference, also known as COP30, is scheduled to take place in Belém, Brazil, from November 10th to 21st. This major international meeting will bring together country leaders and experts to talk about how to protect our planet—by reducing pollution, saving forests, and working together. After COP30, countries will need to share how they plan to keep their climate promises and report on their progress towards global targets. Understanding COP30 and Climate Change At COP30, environmental activists—like those from Greenpeace—raise awareness and encourage action by holding signs and speaking out before such vital meetings. Climate change is a term we hear often, which refers to changes in the world's temperature and the effects these have on weather patterns and the environment. This year, the focus is on the actions world leaders can take by meeting together in Brazil, a country that represents the need to protect nature due to its vast rainforests. What Does Climate Change Mean? Climate change describes a shift in the average weather and temperature patterns over a long period. Its impacts can be seen in changing seasons, unusual weather, and the effects these changes have on people, animals, and plants around the world. Engaging in conversations at school, home, or hearing news coverage can be a starting point for better understanding the seriousness of climate change. Why Is COP30 Important? Meetings like COP30 give world leaders a space to work together, make decisions, and set goals for tackling climate change. Such global cooperation is crucial because climate change affects everyone, and solutions often require countries to support and learn from each other. After the conference, nations will be responsible for showing how they are keeping their climate promises and working towards their goals. Individual and Collective Action: What Can We Do? Everyone can play a role in protecting the planet. People take action by making small changes, such as walking or cycling instead of driving, planting trees, or saving energy at home or school. These actions, when multiplied across communities, can have a significant impact. Some common examples include recycling, conserving water, and turning off lights when they're not needed. Comparing and Reflecting on Actions By looking at examples from around the world, like those found in classroom resources, we can compare our ideas and discover new, simple steps to try. It's important to recognize that not all actions are equally possible for everyone—people's situations may affect which steps they can take. Discussing as a group helps to highlight the potential barriers and opportunities for making a difference. Big Decisions, Everyday Impact Just as leaders come together at COP30, students may think back to times they have been part of decision-making processes that affected their class or school. This can help illustrate how collective and individual actions link to wider, positive change for the environment. Reflecting on local actions, communities can identify where the biggest opportunities for improvement exist, such as areas to plant trees or install recycling bins. Making the Change Together There are many practical activities to explore individual and classroom action. For example, students might create maps of their schools showing where energy could be saved or use simple experiments like "air catchers" to see how much dust can collect in different areas. These projects open discussion about pollution and keeping our air clean. The Power of Small Steps Whether it’s turning off the tap while brushing teeth or recycling cans, every small action can contribute to a healthier planet. For instance: Turning off the tap while brushing for two minutes, twice a day, could save 6 litres of water per minute—adding up to significant water savings each week. Recycling one aluminium can saves enough energy to power a TV for three hours—so recycling several cans over a week quickly adds up. Walking or cycling just one mile instead of driving prevents about 400 grams of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere, which is a big help in reducing overall emissions. Classroom Activities and Displays One creative idea is to make a handprint Earth display in the classroom. Students can add green handprints to a blue circle, representing how everyone can help the planet. Adding drawings of themselves around the display shows that children of all ages can unite to protect the Earth—reminding everyone that small steps by many people make a big difference. Reflection: Why Climate Change Matters Learning about climate change helps us understand why caring for the Earth is so important. Many people, young and old, are acting to protect what we love—from clean air and healthy forests to safe homes for animals. Meetings like COP30 highlight our shared responsibility to work together, regardless of where we live. Our planet belongs to everyone, and each small action counts towards a brighter, safer future. Get Involved and Stay Informed Explore the latest Picture News resources here: https://picture-news.co.uk/free-sample Join our latest discussion here: https://picture-news.co.uk/discuss Explore our recent events and training here: https://picture-news.co.uk/training
