During the first term of the 2024/2025 Academic Year, Cari-Bois partnered with the Scotiabank Foundation to empower ten (10) students with climate journalism skills as part of the second edition of Cari-Bois’ Youth Journalism Project. For their second assignment, students wrote a story about how climate change affects their respective communities. This story was written by Kayah Joseph of Williamsville Secondary School.
Did you know that climate change is one of the most pressing environmental issues facing mankind today?
While some people may not pay much attention to climate change, it is something that affects their daily lives and has been ongoing for the past several decades.
In recent years, weather events have started to become more extreme with prolonged periods of drought and rainfall breaking Trinidad and Tobago’s meteorological records.
During informal discussions with elder residents in Williamsville, most said the country’s temperature has been “too hot” in recent times and, in their opinion, the country has never been this hot before.
Flooding events like the one Trinidad and Tobago witnessed in 2018 has also become more frequent.
During this period of torrential rainfall and catastrophic flooding, communities from North to South were inundated with water and tens of thousands of dollars in damage was recorded.
It is important that people become more aware of climate change and recognise ways they can adopt climate friendly behaviours that help slow the rate of climate change.
For example, people can strive to plant more trees and reduce their use of fossil fuels by turning to renewable energy like solar energy for their homes and renewable energy products like electric vehicles.
Using social media to raise awareness for climate change and climate friendly behaviours can also be useful.
A very special thank you to the Scotiabank Foundation for supporting the development of young people through initiatives like the Cari-Bois Youth Journalism Project.
