NTC students quiz MPs on climate issues
Caring for the Climate
Curious Questions on the Climate
Creative Answers for the Climate
On the 14th November, NTC represented itself as leaders in climate change. Four of our 6th Form Geography students discussed climate change with Members of Parliament at the Houses of Parliament. The students each posed a question to the MPs. MPs and others were impressed by the questions and maturity of the students. Mr Jones and Mr Ray were, as they say, ‘blown away’!
We are a community that not only ‘talk the talk’ but actions it. One of the major themes was the need to plant more trees. Well, November 25th is our Big Plant - 420+ trees are being distributed around the nature reserve. This is a truly legacy event, providing carbon capture and an environment to encourage biodiversity at a time when action is needed.
Climate change, sustainability and biodiversity loss are geographic issues that go hand in hand, and impact people and the environment at a variety of levels; locally, nationally and internationally. Our Geography students who attended this event and engaged in conversation and debate with the Climate Change Select Committee demonstrated the passion they have for the subject and for holding decision-makers to account to tackle this huge global issue.
It was an incredible opportunity for us to be able to raise important issues to people in power who actually have the ability to make a genuine difference. I think it was important for us to do it as it is an issue that is likely to have a great impact on me and people of my generation for the foreseeable future and this was a chance to get a proper insight and gain awareness for any future plans that are being made in an attempt to rectify the damage that has been done to the planet. Cassius D, Y13
The experience was really interesting. We were given a tour of the Houses of Parliament where we visited the House of Commons and the House of Lords, which was really informative and interesting. We then had the opportunity to speak to different MPs and question them on the important issues of climate change and how the government planned to address them. This was a really valuable experience hearing how each MP's views and opinions differed. Louis P, Y13
The issues that we raised are very important and will affect everyone in the future. It was good that we younger people were able to voice our concerns and issues to the government through the climate change select committee. It was also good to know that the government is listening to what we are doing and taking some of our concerns on board and raising them to the whole of government and doing their own investigating issue on their own. Ben A, Y12
It was a great experience getting to talk with the MP’s about a very important topic that is affecting us and future generations to come. It was a good idea to get the youth involved as climate change is ruining the Earth and is being damaged faster than it is being repaired. In our school we are planning to plant 420 trees in our own Nature Reserve, where we are hoping to make a difference because everybody has to start somewhere and do our bit to make a change. Ben F, Y12
Policy makers facing a grilling were Wera Hobhouse, the Liberal Democrat Climate Change Spokesperson, Alex Norris, Labour (Co-op) MP for Nottingham North and Shadow Levelling-up Minister, and Phillip Dunne, Conservative MP for Ludlow and Chair of the Environmental Audit Committee.
To watch a short video of our students in action, click here.
Here are a few images taken during the trip:
NTC at the Houses of Parliament
After speaking to MPs, our students were interviewed by the BBC for Radio 4's Inside Science programme. This was broadcast live yesterday, the full programme is available via BBC Sounds or you can hear our students by clicking the green button.
