Youth speak June 2021∣Youth Hong Kong
Educated and empowered
for climate action
l Natalie Chung and Edward Choi have a message for the people of Hong Kong, especially policy-makers.
l 鍾 芯 豫 (Natalie) 和 蔡 伯 賢 (Edward) 希 望 公 眾 和政府官員一同關注氣候變化。
l V’air Hong Kong, their environmental education organization, connects like-minded youth and has a well-organized advocacy programme with international connections.
l 他們所創立的環保教育組織「V'air 低碳本地 遊」，由一群有共同理念的香港青年組成，亦 積極開拓環球網絡。
l While awareness of climate change is growing, they say there is l 他們認為公民環保意識雖漸見提高，達致全 still room for all of us to contribute towards net zero transition. 民低碳生活的行為模式尚有進步空間。
As environmental problems become more and more serious, a generation of dedicated young people is growing up around the world. Their awareness spreads and becomes rooted through environmental education, but what is happening in our home city? There is a problem of fragmentation within the Hong Kong curriculum, according to both Edward and Natalie of V’air. “Environmental education should be an important part of citizenship education in such a well-developed city as Hong Kong,” Edward stresses. “It needs to keep pace with the era and keep up with social change.” “Even though elements of environmental education are included, they fail to emphasize the importance of behaviour change,” Natalie points out. She says that the most effective way to reconnect children with nature is the simplest. “Some Hong Kong children today are scared of 10
grass.” They barely come into contact with natural surroundings that can be found in abundance in Hong Kong’s country parks. “As a result, they suffer from nature deficiency.” A true believer in the power of environmental education from the youngest possible age, Natalie remembers V’air workshops with eager young children learning about biodiversity and urban ecology.
The key to solving environmental issues lies in youth power.
“They had hands-on experiential learning with the trees and leaves in their neighbourhood.” As she says, “Trees play an essential role in the livability of our city and help to moderate micro-climates.” Children are fascinated by them and eager to explore through all their senses. Current environmental and energy issues and the emergence of renewable energy are introduced in schools, says Edward, “… but due to limited class time and the focus on examinations, the discussion can barely begin before the class ends. Putting environmental protection into practice in daily life, understanding the problems of inefficiency with renewable energy, these topics are rarely touched on. The fly in the ointment is fragmentation of environmental education and insufficient time outside the classroom.” “Across bureaus, the government should take courage, face the difficulties, plan the content and scope of environmental education, and integrate it with experiential activities,” he continues. Through outdoor education,
students can establish a relationship with nature, forming the basis for environmental awareness and a sense of conservation for the next generation. Young Swedish environmentalists have been in the news around the world but now it is the turn of our local advocates. They start young, as Natalie did. Her inspiration comes from her primary school project competition with the Hong Kong Observatory. In an interview lined up with a polar explorer, she learned about rising sea levels caused by climate change. She realized the danger this poses for Hong Kong and has worked hard to bring this to the attention of others, from her peers to the relevant government departments responsible for a climate action plan that will protect Hong Kong’s coastlines. “The key to solving environmental issues lies in youth power.,” Edward points out, “I think that the government should be determined to design a comprehensive environmental education programme that integrates classrooms, indoors and outdoors, campuses and
A small step taken by everyone will be much more effective than a big step taken by a few professionals. 11
