Empowering Communities: A Panel Event on Climate Justice

On the 15th of November me, Menna and Emily represented the Youth Climate Ambassadors  in a panel event at the Grand theatre in Swansea, along with representatives from women & climate justice, ethnic minority communities in wales and frontline global voices. The event had the goal of bringing communities together in unity in order to converse how we are all affected by the Climate crisis on a large scale but also in daily life. Subjects such as irregular crop growth due to extreme weather, political barriers, and a lack of education were key focuses in the discussion, and was truly eye-opening in scrutinizing the vast array of consequences that are already being faced. We were given three questions to discuss and it was wonderful to see the various interpretations that were given by all the different panellists. The audience also received an opportunity to join in to the discussion, allowing us an even broader encompassed conversation. We all understand our complicity in rising greenhouse gas emission and the surface area consequences of our detrimental actions, but through the panel I learnt the more complex effects and how it can be inimical for communities and families. As the Earth’s temperature continues to increase, irregular weather patterns and disturbed seasonal tendencies are becoming ever more common causing agricultural communities to suffer enormously as they are unable to produce sufficient crops to sell. This has an effect both on the public with a lack of produce but also on the farmers making it very difficult to earn a livelihood. Once the panel was over we had time to discuss deeper with the audience, which was lovely to understand how they were doing their part in their daily life and work force to reduce their personal carbon footprint and taking action in this global crisis. I spoke to one younger girl who truly made me feel proud as she expressed how we inspired her, and wanted to learn more on what she could do personally to take action. The panel was such an incredible experience to discuss the challenges that face all walks of life and how we must work in unity to combat this catastrophic crisis.