Larisa participated in the Training Course “One Earth, One Chance” organized by PROJUVEN in Benalmádena, Spain
Hello Larisa! Can you give us your opinion about the project “One Earth, One Chance“ and Erasmus + experience?
The project was very useful for all participants, from the perspective of the problem addressed, a very important and urgent one for the entire planet. The project “One Earth, One Chance” provided youth workers with new knowledge and competences on climate change. The informations was very well structured and understandable to everyone, essential topics being addressed by the trainers. The chosen location was an inspired one, considering that the Malaga area and nearby cities are facing climate change, through rising temperatures, drought, and the lack of potable water reservoirs.
In this sense, it was very useful to interact with the locals who explained to us the problems they are facing and what solutions they have at hand. Also, we explored cause & effect of climate change and understanding the influence of human activities, we discovered the importance of climate change mitigation and adaptation to prevent the negative impact, and we became aware of our role in the community, in the sense that we are obliged to share the informations obtained and to teach people to be responsible for their actions.
What are some of the biggest challenges you see in addressing climate change, and how do you think we can overcome them?
The biggest challenge is trying to change people’s mentality, some don’t believe in climate change or even if they do, they don’t take any measures in this regard, expecting all the responsibility to fall into the hands of governments or big companies. I think the most important thing is for people to realize that climate change is real, it’s happening very quickly, and we need to act urgently to try to mitigate the effects or slow them down, both for us and for the next generation. I believe a lot in the power of example, and I believe that a community can change if a group of people take the initiative and causes others to change and adopt responsible behavior.
What are some specific actions you plan to take to reduce your own carbon footprint and contribute to the fight against climate change?
This project made me aware of my role in the community and in climate change. I intend to select as much waste as possible, to install solar panels to ensure my energy independence, reduce electricity consumption, consume local and seasonal products, bring reusable shopping bags and avoid products with excessive plastic packaging, turn off lights and unplug devices when i’am not using them, use the cold water cycle for washing my clothes, use alternative transportation (bus, train, carpool, or bike) to get to work one day per week, I will make sure to buy only what i need, to avoid waste, I will buy responsibly-made clothes, e.g. made from recycled material or with an eco-label, buying second-hand etc.
All of us can contribute to fighting global warming by making climate-friendly choices in our daily lives, because small changes can make a big difference in the long run, for example when it comes to transportation, food, clothing, waste, etc.
