South West Climate Change Champion visits PML
1st October 2008
The South West Climate Change Champion, 15-year-old Shirley Halse,
joined world leading scientists and researchers at PML to
investigate the possible effects of climate change on our
seas.
Shirley joined the crew of PML’s research ship, the RV MBA Sepia,
on a trip to Plymouth Sound and the River Tamar on Friday (26
September) to undertake a short trawl to demonstrate the diversity
of marine life in the area.
She was then given a tour of the labs, took part in an ocean
acidification experiment and met Nobel Laureate, Dr Carol Turley, a
microbial biologist, who was jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize
as a member of the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change.
Shirley said: “There is such a wealth of life under the sea that
goes unnoticed. If we are not careful we will lose it before it’s
even discovered.
“I found the concept of acidification – the
seas becoming more acidic due to absorbing CO2 from the
atmosphere – really alarming. This is something that I hope
politicians and scientists will make a priority. It also highlights
how we should all make efforts to cut our own carbon footprints and
play our parts in reducing CO2.”
Dr Turley said: “It’s wonderful that Shirley, the South West’s
Climate Change Champion, is visiting Plymouth Marine Laboratory and
seeing just a bit of the work we are doing here on climate change
and ocean acidification. In a sense, she represents the younger
generation and it’s good to see them really talking up this
challenging issue. I have especially enjoyed hearing her ideas on
what humanity, and that includes everyone one of us, can do to
combat climate change.”
Shirley’s appointment as the region’s Climate Change Champion
was announced by the Prime Minister in February this year following
a competition open to all 11 to 18-year-olds.
During their year in office, each Climate Change Champion will
communicate their ideas on how people can reduce their carbon
footprint by taking simple and effective action; take part in
public awareness campaigns; join a European fact finding expedition
to see the effects of climate change and how they are being tackled
in other communities and meet Government ministers to share their
ideas. They will also organise a climate change themed event at
their school or college.
The champions also record their experiences on www.footprintfriends.com, a
website dedicated to young people around the world who are
interested in the environment and climate change.
The initiative is part of the Government’s "Act on
CO2" campaign which underlines the link between everyday
human behaviour and its effect on the environment. It calls for
young people to demonstrate how they can encourage others to reduce
their carbon footprint.
Issued on behalf of DEFRA by COI News and PR (South West)