What steps are you taking in the fight against climate change?

Hong Kong ranks as one of the world’s most polluted cities. We try to improve our economy all the time, but we sacrifice our environment for it. As individuals, we might say that our efforts are not enough to bring about real change, but I believe our small actions matter. If we all make small changes, such as biking to work or switching off lights, we can save the world.

Zoe Lu, 15, South Island School

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I recently bought a metal straw, so I no longer use single-use plastic straws. I rarely buy takeaway (which can come in plastic containers) and I never use plastic bags when grocery shopping. I also try to recycle plastic bottles and metal cans.

Angela Lam, 17, Creative Secondary School

I normally decline receipts when I go shopping, and ask to not be given plastic cutlery. I also have a couple of sets of metal straws that I carry around so I don’t have to use single-use plastic ones. I rarely use transport and I try to walk as much as I can. Some people think that I am crazy for walking long distances but I think that every little helps.

Zachary Perez Jones, 14, South Island School

I’ve become a vegetarian, and I try to avoid buying food wrapped in a lot of plastic. I’m also going to the student strike today, as I believe the first step to effect change is to spread awareness about issues, and I think the strike is a great example of that!

Aiswarya Rambhatla, 15, South Island School

I think I will not use my air conditioning as much. I might only start using it when it is 30 degrees Celsius or more. Also, I am thinking about becoming a vegetarian, and reducing the amount of food I throw away.

Teresa Kwok, 14, South Island School

What teenagers from around the world want everyone to understand about climate change

I don’t turn on the AC if the temperature is below 30 degree Celsius. I think a major contributor towards global warming is the overuse of air conditioning. People rely on
it too much during the summer. Switching it on for the whole summer leads to lots of carbon dioxide being released into the atmosphere, which traps more heat, which leads to warmer temperatures – and more ACs being turned on.

Wong Wing-yan, 15, The Hong Kong Management Association K. S. Lo College

I think one of the solutions we can all adopt is to take public transport. Hong Kong has a lot of people in it, and there are many cars on the road. We could reduce that by having more people take the bus and the MTR. The government should promote a greater use of renewable energies, such as solar energy and electricity, to replace fossil fuels.

Thomas Yip, 17, Creative Secondary School

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Arden supports students attending #FridaysForFuture climate strikes

The first thing we have to do is to educate people about how serious the problem is, and how it impacts us in our daily lives. We should decrease the amount of waste we have by throwing away less and recycling more. I walk a lot and take public transport instead of private. Overall, I believe that if everyone does their fair share for the environment we will shape our future for the better!

Carlijn Van der Weijst, 15, South Island School

I do not use as many plastic bags as I used to, and bring my own lunchbox with me when I order takeaway. However, few of my friends do the same. We should start telling our friends to be more conscious of how their actions affect the environment. Then they would change the way they behave, too.

Cynthia So, 17, Creative Secondary School