Students from Wales and Bangladesh Unite to Tackle Climate Change
Language students at Coleg Meirion-Dwyfor’s Pwllheli campus have teamed up with students from Bangladesh to tackle a new and exciting project on climate change.
Connecting Classrooms - which is funded by the British Council - is an innovative project which aims to bring students from different parts of the world together, so that they can discuss the climate crisis in an open and holistic way.
To mark the beginning of the project, all of the students involved took part in a mini, COP26-style online climate conference.
Students from both the UK and Bangladesh had the opportunity to discuss several topics relating to both countries: the main greenhouse gas polluters; what each country can do to reduce its own emissions; the effects and impacts witnessed, and what they can do to adapt to climate change.
Following the initial online conference, a tree-planting ceremony was held on the Pwllheli campus to mark the partnership between the students and their counterparts in Bangladesh. The sapling was donated by the Woodland Trust.
Helen McFarlane, A-level French tutor at Coleg Meirion-Dwyfor, Pwllheli, said: “I’m thrilled that our students had the opportunity to take part in such a stimulating project. As a teacher, it has always amazed me how much we have to learn from our young people.
“With the UN’s COP26 conference in Glasgow nearing completion, I do hope that those in power follow the example of these amazing young people and see that the climate emergency can, and should only be tackled through, cooperation and international friendship.
“We hope to deepen our relationship with our friends in Bangladesh over the coming years, and work closely with them on similar projects.”
Bryn Hughes-Parry, assistant principal at Coleg Meirion-Dwyfor, said: “Allowing our students to engage and take the lead on such issues is an integral part of the whole ethos of Coleg Meirion-Dwyfor. This kind of work will only strengthen our commitment to implement the United Nations’ Sustainability Development Goals 13 (Climate Action) and 3 (Promoting Health for All) at the college.
“I hope that the sapling planted at the Pwllheli campus will be the first of many, and will be a testament to the hard work of both our students in Wales and their counterparts in Bangladesh.”
