Interview with our Ambassadors of Change

Interview transcript

Casper: The Voyage for the future programme is all about getting young people to lead on the issue of climate change. We have got 9 different countries represented here, and what we are all doing is learning about the science and seeing for ourselves the effects of climate change on the arctic, the devastating effects on the people who live here, but also the effects of rising sea levels and what they would have world wide. Then we go back to our local communities and to our national governments and to urge our leaders to take action on climate change. To draw attention to the fact that the arctic is melting, and to draw attention to what is going to happen, and then to take that knowledge, to use that, and to make sure that our governments create a strong, legally binding international agreement, which will make sure that we will change the way that we are dealing with climate change.

Emma: We are here to look at the issue of climate change and call on global leaders to curb carbon emissions by at least 80% by 2050. But not only are going to be work with leaders at the top, we are going to be working with local authorities, and talking to local people about issues of climate change.

Casper: We are working with WWF, who is a global leader on the issue of climate change. They are respected internationally by people, and government's world wide, based solely on science and to work with them on these issues, will be a real honour and privilege. I think as young people, not only do we have the opportunity but we have the responsibility, we are going to inherit the world which is created now by our global leaders. They are making decisions, which if they mismanage and do them wrongly; we are going to witness severe and dreadful consequences, so it is actually a responsibility, as well as an opportunity for my generation.

Emma: I would like to be really optimistic about this, and I think that this is a really important way of approaching the issue of climate change. We are young people here, together uniting to demonstrate that climate change is a really important issue, especially for our generation and we're here to show that our voice counts, in this issue we are prepared to take action and so should the government.

Casper: I think that what we have seen in Britain in the last year, 18 months, and I think that everyone is aware of this, is a real realisation of how we are affecting our climate, and the fact politicians and business are talking, but also acting on climate change in their own way, is a great sense of hope for me. I think what we are doing, whilst a young person particularly, and representing over half the worlds population, we are going to see an increased mobilisation on this issue, and the fact that more and more people are passionate and acting on this issue fills me with great hope.