"We need to seriously consider the introduction of climate change as a topic in our primary schools. Our children are agents of change and they are pivotal to start changing attitudes and behaviours,”  MEP Miriam Dalli told the Progressives for Climate Conference that was held in Paris, a few weeks ahead the UN Climate Change Conference, COP21, to be held in December.

The “Progressives for Climate” conference was organized by the Socialists and Democrats group together with the Young European Socialists, YES. The event brought together 100 youths from across the EU, including 4 young people from Malta.

During a very interesting discussion on climate change and what action is required, Miriam Dalli spoke about the need to have a long-term vision, which realizes that carbon will be a riskier investment in the long-run.

Dr Dalli insisted that policies should be adapted to make carbon financially less attractive than it is today, rather than going down the road of governments outright banning investments in carbon. “This will have a counter-effect, to what we really want to achieve because organizations or institutions wanting to circumvent such decision, will find other loopholes just to do this,” MEP Dalli insisted.

What is really required Miriam Dalli said, is to have policies, a proper roadmap, which can lead to a shift in the mentality of people, organisations and policy-makers. “This is not an issue for government’s only to deal with. Each and every one of us has the power to start changing things. We all can contribute in concrete ways to address climate change,” Dr Dalli added.

“In this regard teaching our children about climate change from a very early age, will help us change our citizens’ mentality because the impact our kids have on their parents is simply amazing,” Miriam Dalli concluded.