Our Cooking Climate

IT’S OFTEN THE YOUNGEST minds that have the most creative and innovative ideas when it comes to tackling the big issues. Darwin City Council has tapped in to some of these young minds in its Climate Change Challenge 2019. 

The competition, facilitated through Engage Darwin, asked middle and high schoolers what they felt was the most significant effect climate change could have in Darwin, and what could be done to mitigate the risk.

For 14-year-old Julianne Gabor, the most devastating impact of climate change for Darwin would be a mass exodus of people, pushed out by rising temperatures.

“You can’t have a city without people,” she says.

“People care for the environment and people build the roots of Darwin. One of the reasons people leave Darwin is because of the hot climate and the humidity, and if that gets worse, it will drive more people away.”

Julianne believes the best way to tackle the issue is through education. 

“I don’t think climate change is talked about enough – I’ve thought about it in the past but barely hear it talked about in a school environment. I think schools – and any type of education platform – should be pushing students and young adults to take a stand on this growing issue.”

While there are prizes up for grabs for the best works and most creative and innovative ideas, it was a chance to have her voice heard that motivated Julianne to participate.

“I saw it as a great opportunity to have say because climate change is a growing issue around the world, and I thought it was interesting to think about what would happen to Darwin.

“I really hope [the Council] try and tie in some of the ideas because I think all the students across Darwin would have great ideas, and the opinions of students really matter. We’re the next generation and if we don’t change, we’ll live in a world that’s too polluted to breathe in.”