Scouts say climate change threatens way of life

Scouts across the world are lending their voices in the fight against climate change.

 From the Arctic Circle to small island states, to the peak of Mount Kilimanjaro, climate change is impacting upon traditional Scouting activities. The World Organization of the Scout Movement is made up of over 30 million girls, boys, women and men in 160 countries and they are feeling the heat from climate change across the globe.

The intense natural disasters and climatic changes that sweep across the planet are affecting Scouts in many ways. In Australia at the start of the year, the most intense fires burnt out forests traditionally used by Scouts, devastating wildlife in the process. These areas are now completely off limits.

Burundi Scouts regularly help protect the local lakes ecosystems.

The Philippines have been recently battered by cyclones and floods, with Scouts helping their communities in their time of need.

Snow cover in Sweden is becoming less reliable and impacts upon traditional Scouting activities, with Scouts having to travel further to reach the snow.

Scouts in Ghana are concerned that the extra burden of climate change will further impact on the environment in areas already being threatened by pollution and mismanagement. Climate change could impact upon the local community vegetable gardens that Scouts have established across Africa.

Scouts in the Maldives could lose their home due to rising sea level.

For the Scouts of the Maldives, it is not only their Scouting activities at risk, but their entire way of life as rising sea levels threaten to wash over their small islands home in the Indian Ocean.

Scouts are not simply sitting idly by and waiting for the impact of climate change to take over. They are taking action all over the world to educate their peers and communities about the risks of climate change, how to conserve energy and to adapt to the risks. The Scout motto to 'Be Prepared' is well suited to their preparation in case a natural disaster strikes.

The World Organization of the Scout Movement works with key partners in the environment field including the United Nations Environment Programme to help promote initiatives that will raise awareness of climate change and encourage people to take action. The United Nations Climate Change Conference will begin on the 7th of December and with one month to go, Scouts and citizens of the world are adding their voices to the 'Seal the Deal' campaign to influence governments to establish a fair balanced and effective agreement for the next generation.

Scouts across Africa have established community vegetable gardens.

On the 7th of November people are urged to sign up to the 'Seal the Deal campaign', share this with 7 other buddies of yours and encourage them to sign up and pass this on. Sign up now and make your voice heard at: www.sealthedeal2009.org

Scouts are doing their part in helping to combat the effects of climate change and invite you to join the efforts to protect our one planet.

Share your climate change action stories with the World Organization of the Scout Movement through emailing: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it