Climate Change is happening. There’s no getting away from the fact that our planet faces an ecological meltdown if trends continue in their current pattern. Its time to stop hiding behind a cloak of apathy and denial; it’s not a myth, it’s not a load of bull and it’s not a liberal conspiracy. What it is, is one big fat problem that needs solving, now!

Some people claim that saving the planet is too expensive, and beyond the budget of tax-payers and the government. Well you know what? Petrol, nightclubs, cinema popcorn, new shoes etc. are costly, but we still buy them; it’s a matter of how much you want something, and saving the planet is not a want, it’s a necessity. As one of the most influential powers in the world, we should be setting an example, showing that we are on the frontline in the battle against climate change, and I got an opportunity to see our people fighting the good fight when I attended the Climate Change Crash Course held in York by Ctrl.Alt.Shift partner Catalyst.

Catalyst is an organisation similar to Ctrl.Alt.Shift, in that it is aimed at the next generation looking to make a difference by focusing on the issues that matter. It is run by enthusiastic individuals such as Alex Jones, who look at ways of engaging with young people and helping them realise that they are the ones who can change the world.

To begin with, on the frosty morning, I made my way to the Priory Centre where, in an unassuming church hall (that smelt of vanish and the memories of thousands of birthday parties lingering in the air), around 40 people aged between 17 and 25 gathered for the Crash Course to talk about what could be done to stop the threat of climate change and what they could do about it.

Ctrl.Alt.Shift volunteers Lucy Keen, Sarah Rowe and Holly Davis, fresh from their trip visiting Kenya, gave talks about the things they had seen out in Africa, and what is being done by people in the communities and the partners they are working with to try and tackle climate change. They talked about how organisations such as UCCS (Ukamba Christian Community Services) and BIDII (Benevolent Institute of Development Initiatives) are helping the locals take part in sustainable projects, which not only empower communities, but are realistic solutions to the troubles they face. They highlighted how it is the people of developing countries such as Kenya who are bearing the brunt of climate change; as ever, it is those who contribute the least to problem who are suffering the most.

The Crash Course project was made possible thanks to funding by an organisation called the Cooperative, and their man on the ground, Ed Powell. Together, we all hammered home the message that something needs to be done on climate change with a good old flash-mob in the streets. The theme was for people to wake up to climate change, so around seven plucky volunteers donned masks of some of the most iconic world leaders, and lay in the streets for a full three minutes (which trust me seems longer when you’re lying on a pavement littered with fag ends and chewing gum). Others then came along and urged them to wake up, shouting at them to wake up to the threat of climate change. The demonstration went great and we managed to cause enough ruckus to ensure that people engaged with Ctrl.Alt.Shift, and Catalyst’s campaign.

So what did I take from the Climate Change Crash Course 2009? Well apart from a cold (it’s a grim winter up north), I came away feeling inspired. It’s was great to see so many people passionate about an issue that affects us all, eager to get more involved with Ctrl.Alt.Shift’s work.

Take note. Climate Change is happening, now let’s set about stopping it!            

Words and photos: James Prosho

Did you know:
The global temperature has risen by 0.7 degrees centigrade, and that’s only in the last half of the 20th century. 80% of the scientific community agree that climate change is a problem; to quote comedian Marcus Brigstocke, “if 80% is a big enough number of cats to decide which is the best cat food, then surely 80% is a big enough number of scientists who know what’s going on.”

The increase of CO2 emissions is one of the fundamental issues that are threatening our planet - USA and Great Britain are the main offenders, again highlighting how it is us who must make the first move towards combating climate change.