GET INVOLVE D WITH CLIMATE CHATS
FROM 13 to 80 – school pupils gathered with grandparents to have cross-generation conversations about climate change.
And the message was clear: people of all ages want urgent action to protect the future of the planet.
At an event hosted by M&S on Argyle Street, not-for-profit organisation Reboot the Future helped spark chats about how to reduce our carbon footprints and encourage others to be more environmentally friendly.
Teenagers from Lochend Community High School were invited to join M&S staff at the store to learn ways of holding conversations on the vital topic with family and friends.
Britain’s Got Talent star and radio host Edward Reid was also at the event with his mum, Margaret, to learn more about the issues involved. Mason Kerr and Connor Shepherd from the Easterhouse secondary were picked to attend the event due to their keen interest in environmental issues.
Connor, 13, said: “It’s scary to think that in 100 years’ time the world could be nothing and in eight years all the damage that’s been done is not going to be reversible.
“But having COP26 here is making people more excited and they are talking about the issues.”
Mason, 14, added: “I think if we try really hard we can get there.
“But it needs to be all generations coming together and working together to make changes.”
The boys’ teacher John McGovern said that climate change is now a “fundamental” part of learning at Lochend and is mentioned in various parts of the curriculum.
But, he added, with agreement from Mason and Connor, it is often the pupils teaching the adults
in the school about environmental issues.
John said: “It needs to get to the point where climate change is part of our everyday conversations so that it’s not about having standalone lessons but really integrated into everyday life and every lesson.
“As teachers we have a big role to play and the school has had so many opportunities linked to COP26 and I’m hoping these opportunities and conversations will still be around in six months and not allowed to fade away after COP26 is finished with.”
Margaret, from Coatbridge, said she worries about the younger generations and feels much more could be done on an individual level to help cut carbon emissions.
For her generation, she said, food waste was a non-issue as nothing was thrown out and she would like to see her grandchildren bought fewer toys and presents.
The 80-year-old said: “I think about climate change a lot and I feel the young ones are not really interested in it.
“They just expect to get toys when they already have so much. And I wish families would sit down and eat one meal together – I know parents who are making three meals because no-one eats the same thing. It’s so wasteful.”
Margaret is also an avid knitter and said a young relative was desperate for a £1200 jumper worn by pop star Harry Styles.
So she grabbed her knitting needles and designed and made a near-identical knock-off for £30.
The Cafe Conversations group was also told how, in 2008, M&S set up a Shwopping partnership with Oxfam asking for clothing to be donated to support the charity’s work around the world.
Once clothing is dropped off, it is resold, reused or recycled with none of it going to waste.
Stores across Scotland are involved in the scheme, including Glasgow’s Argyle Street, Sauchiehall Street, Silverburn and The Fort branches.
Reboot the Future and the retailer have set up online resource reboottheconversation.org with information and videos about holding honest and effective conversations on climate change.
M&S said it was working from data gathered in its latest Family Matters report, which showed 64% of 5000 respondents across the UK listing climate change as a top concern.
M&S has pledged to cut its carbon footprint by a third by 2025 as part of its commitment to be fully net zero by 2040 – 10 years ahead of the Westminster Government’s strategy for England and Wales.
Scotland has set its own target for 2045. David Bates, M&S regional manager for Scotland West, said he was “privileged” to be able to bring people together and said his plans for climate change activities in Glasgow’s stores would last long after COP26 is over.