COP26 for kids

When did it all begin?

Back in 1994, world leaders decided that they would join forces to create a group known as the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change), to help combat global warming. Each year a COP happens to discuss the progress countries are making and steps forward.

In 2016 at COP21, all of the members of the UNFCCC signed an international agreement, called the Paris Agreement to tackle climate change, to be reviewed every 5 years. So, the COP26 meeting is the most important COP since 2015.

What will be discussed?

The 12-day event will cover many aspects of climate change. The world leaders will agree on future targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, invest in renewable energy resources, how to further cut carbon emissions and other ways of protecting the planet.

It is an opportunity for the world to discover what has been achieved and what still needs to be done.

What is climate change?

Climate change happens when weather patterns all over the world change much too quickly.

People have been doing things for many years that make the world heat up too fast, like letting gases go up into the Earth’s air. These gases trap heat and make the earth warmer - they are called greenhouse gases.

The warmer earth affects lots of living things all over the world, including forests, oceans, grasslands and other places where animals live.

Did you know that many greenhouse gases going into the air come from farming or food production?

All these things have contributed to climate change…

What can be done to slow climate change?

ENERGY AND FUEL

• Use clean energy such as wind turbines instead of fossil fuels
• Use transport that runs on clean energy, like electric cars

FARMS AND FOODS

• Use fewer chemicals on food crops
• Take care of the land so that plants and animals can live properly
• Release fewer greenhouse gases into the air
• Only use tractors and farm equipment that is more eco-friendly

OCEANS AND SEAS

• People need to stop dumping industrial waste into the waters

FORESTS

• Stop cutting down trees
• Learn new ways to grow crops on land with existing trees
• Wood to be produced in ways to keep forests safe

How you can help towards a cleaner, greener future

• Reduce the amount of trash you use
• Reuse and recycle wherever possible
• Buy locally to reduce the need for your items to be transported by road, sea or air
• Turn off the lights when you leave the room
• Close doors and windows so heat doesn’t escape
• Take smaller baths or shorter showers
• Walk or cycle instead of going in the car
• Turn off your electronics when not in use
• Keep learning new ways to conserve energy!

FUN ACTIVITY SHEETS

Check out our ‘sustainability activity sheets’ for the kids to download, including the green heart colouring sheet and the ‘help the environment’ idea sheet.

Let’s get involved today to help create a greener future.