Students encouraged to become climate warriors

“What we’re witnessing today is happening at a much faster pace than what has been predicted,” said Dr Roelof Burger from the North-West University’s Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Science, during a talk on environmental issues on 19 February.

The lecture formed part of the Student Campus Council’s (SCC) Value Your Environment Week.

Burger started off by asking students what they think the biggest environmental concerns are.

Many students mentioned  issues such as greenhouse gases and plastic pollution. 

Burger added the issue of poverty and population growth to the list, specifically referring to South Africa. “Our population is growing, and with that we see a rise in poverty,” he said.

Burger argued that it is in poverty-stricken areas where one would normally notice a high level of violent service delivery protests. “Our government is pressured to deliver services at a rate that is unprecedented,” he said. 

He encouraged students to commit to the alleviation of poverty. “We don’t need activists. We need individuals who can use their skills and expertise to tackle these issues that are currently facing our environment,” Burger said.

Burger also shed light on scientific predictions regarding issues such as the rise in sea levels as well as the world’s carbon dioxide footprint. 

“It is quite clear that what we’re witnessing today is happening at a much faster pace than what has been predicted,” he reiterated.

Environmental scientist Anneke Schoeman, who spoke after Burger, said the environmental issues the world faces are caused directly by human behaviour.

Schoeman said that when it comes to addressing these issues, humans have one of two options: “We can either ignore what’s happening and say it’s all part of the course the environment is taking, or we can stand our ground and become climate warriors.”

She defined a climate warrior as someone who not merely raises these alarming environmental issues through public platforms, but one who identifies the concerns the world is faced with, and takes the necessary action to address them.

According to Schoeman, humans waste more than 30% of the food they buy. She said this can easily be resolved by planning meals and restricting diets.

“One great way to ensure that no food goes to waste, while at the same time being kind towards the environment, is to reduce our meat intake. Restrict your meat to every third meal,” Schoeman advised students.

She also highlighted other practical solutions to “saving our environment”, adding that students should consider driving to campus once a week, and walk or use a bicycle for the remaining days. “By doing so, we reduce our carbon dioxide footprint.”

Schoeman believes that “education is key to addressing the issues facing our environment” and encouraged students to fully educate themselves on these pressing matters.

Conrad Kruger, a second-year engineering student, said that he found the discussion interesting and very insightful. 

“I love the fact that Anneke gave practical examples on what action we as millennials can take. I certainly hope that a mind shift was made by most of us in attendance tonight,” Conrad added.