The British School of Bahrain Speaks Up on Climate Change

Global warming has been an influential topic of discussion for youth in recent years. As temperatures rise, so do tensions and uncertainties of young teenagers worrying about creating a future disrupted with destroyed habitats. Recent statistics lit a fire for activists when the worst impacts of climate change were predicted to be irreversible by 2030, a mere 9 years from our life today. As more than 1 million species are at risk of extinction by climate change, it is time to speak up and to act in any way possible.

Temperatures have risen 1.18 degrees Celsius since the late 19th century. As astonishing facts pile onto each other and solutions get more complex, the youth are finding it harder and harder to find an answer to this conundrum. A Swedish activist, Greta Thunberg became an inspiration to many in her passionate fight against global warming. She says “the moment we decide to fulfill something, we can do anything” and one would hope that all youth adopt this optimistic mindset in tumultuous times. A particular group of youth in the British School of Bahrain did: The Sustainable Environmental Committee Organisation. Consisting of passionate 6th formers, this committee has been holding discourse since September on effective ways to create a sustainable impact with the school.

On the week of the 18th to the 22nd of April, the Eco-Committee took the Senior School by storm, in a purely figurative sense! As they dipped and dabbled in a plethora of events, they placed a motivating message of sustainability and impact at the core of their vision. Students had the opportunity to watch educational documentaries as they were able to widen their horizons and learn more about the tragedies of climate change. Spirits were built up as an Art Competition took place during the week made from purely recyclable materials to learn about the importance of the 3 Rs. The environmental committee also sold portable metal straws and reusable masks at an attempt to ensure students try their best to remain eco-friendly in the middle of a plastic obsessed pandemic! SECO (the environmental committee) also published an article booklet where they informed students about SECO and climate change with numerous articles written by committee members and teachers on a myriad of topics.

As we close the month of April with this theme of the aftermath of global development, it is impossible not to analyse the effects global development has had on climates and habitats. Looking back at the Industrial Revolution: economies went through a metamorphosis as they moved from agriculture and manufacturing and factories. As we continue through time, electricity, fossil fuels and coal become cheaper and easily useful. Fast forward to today and we live in a world completely reliant on dangerous methods of production, that harm all of us. Changes on a community level is the first step to education and changing attitudes, and once we move forward from this we can only hope to progress further into policy and law!

Making progress a priority for the youth is what will lead the future into sustainability, and the Earth Week at BSB clearly demonstrated that. Use the SECO events as a base, and launch further into the intricacies of environment and sustainability further. Learn about how to live a ethically responsible lifestyle, what changes are being made in policy and how to contribute to those.

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By Kaviesh Kinger 12A