22 students from the 9b class of “Prof. Dr. Asen Zlatarov” in Varna managed to achieve one of the best climate scenarios for the future of humanity. Divided into four groups, using the climate simulator, they managed to limit the global temperature rise to 2.6°C against official forecasts of 3.6°C. If we want a better future for our children, we need to prepare them for the challenges they will face in the future, said Ilian Iliev, chairman of the Public Centre for Environment and Sustainable Development, who led the practical exercise in the class.
The goal of the European Union and all its member states that have signed and ratified the Paris Agreement is to reduce their carbon emissions by at least 55% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels, and to become climate neutral by 2050.
The lesson with the ninth graders from the Prof. Dr. Asen Zlatarov Secondary School is part of a series of outreach trainings for students related to climate change and our impact on the environment. Any school wishing its pupils to be environmentally literate can request the training free of charge here. The educational lecture, related to climate change and our impact on it, is within one school hour. It can take place during class time, another subject or as an extra-curricular activity.
The students will be met by Ilian Iliev, chairman of the Public Centre for Environment and Sustainable Development, or another expert on the topic from the organisation. During the meeting, students will go from being listeners to being participants in the management of global industries and processes that directly affect the rise of the Earth’s average annual temperatures and sea levels. This will be done with the help of the climate calculator, translated and adapted into Bulgarian by Apostol Penkov from the Public Centre for Environment and Sustainable Development.
The training is suitable for high school students. Graduates of the Professional High School of Computer Modelling and Computer Systems (PGKMKS) in Varna have already benefited from it.
“If today some old people have accepted by how much the temperature rise must be reduced by 2050, this must be implemented by young people tomorrow. That is why it is important to talk to them about this topic,” Ilian Iliev believes. According to him, if young people today are indifferent to climate change, it is because no one has discussed the issue with them.