Published: 04 Oct 2021
Image: Ostrero Making Circles COP26 Project
Scottish schoolchildren have called on world leaders meeting at COP26 to bring about real change to halt climate change and ensure they inherit a sustainable planet.
They have also shown that one way ahead is through cutting waste by transforming used and unwanted items into useful or attractive things like bags or brooches.
Their words and creations feature in a new online display created by Edinburgh-based social impact business Ostrero and hosted by National Museums Scotland (NMS) called Designing for the Climate: A Circular Economy.
During the “Making Circles” project children took part in a variety of activities, including learning from professional artists and designers about how to use their creative skills to rid the world of waste.
Many, including pupils from Juniper Green Primary School in Edinburgh, Larbert Academy and Wester Hailes Education Centre (WHEC) contributed by designing or making items from waste and unwanted materials.
Classes from Duddingston Primary School, in Edinburgh, and Moffat Academy in Dumfries and Galloway, also wrote messages to leaders attending COP26, which takes place in Glasgow in November.
One contributor also made a heartfelt plea for more bins with proper lids to stop gulls getting in.
Written comments from around 20 of the children feature in the display. Among them are contributions from Moffat’s P5 (then P4) class such as:
Pupils from the P6 and P3 classes at Duddingston said:
Ostrero was founded in 2016 by Mary Michel and Marian Brown and has been working with the creative sector, teachers, pupils and many others to show how we can design, make and use things differently and in doing so protect the world’s natural and human resources.
Marian said: “When leaders gather at COP26 they will be making decisions that will decide what kind of world our children will inherit. Today’s young people are highly aware of the issues at stake and deeply concerned about climate change, pollution and environmental degradation.
“Their interest in a circular economy, that minimises waste, and their wonderful creativity should give us all hope and a sense of pride in our young people.
“The comments we received from classes underline that they want to see change. It is only right that their words should be heard and their aspirations respected as it is they who will have to endure the potentially devastating effects of climate change – and of the failures by our generation and those that came before us to act sooner to create a sustainable world.”
Designing for the Climate: A Circular Economy can be seen on the NMS website at https://www.nms.ac.uk and has been supported by Creative Scotland.
Iain Munro, Chief Executive at Creative Scotland said: “There is no greater challenge facing us and our life on this planet than the climate crisis.
“Addressing the issue requires major societal change, and it is imperative that young people are at the heart of the conversion to help shape how we address the issue and its impact on their future.
“We are pleased to support Ostrero to create this important platform at the National Museums Scotland for these young voices to be heard, thanks to funding from the National Lottery.”
About Ostrero
Ostrero is a small organisation dedicated to growing the Circular Economy in Scotland through clear communication and education. For more information, please see our website at www.ostrero.com or contact Mary Michel on 07752476954 or info@ostrero.com
Schools can access “Making Circles Online” free of charge to discover more creative activities on the theme of designing out waste. Making Circles Online was supported by Creative Scotland, Artemis Charitable Foundation, Edinburgh Trades Fund and Craft Scotland.
About Creative Scotland
Creative Scotland is the public body that supports the arts, screen and creative industries across all parts of Scotland on behalf of everyone who lives, works or visits here. It enables people and organisations to work in and experience the arts, screen and creative industries in Scotland by helping others to develop great ideas and bring them to life. It distributes funding provided by the Scottish Government and the National Lottery. For further information about Creative Scotland please visit www.creativescotland.com. Follow @creativescots and www.facebook.com/CreativeScotland.