Talk: “Our Future on Fire — Why We Need to Act Now on Climate Change”
Good morning everyone,
My name is Monica and today I want to talk about something that honestly keeps me up at night and that is climate change. I know, you’ve probably heard that phrase a hundred times before. It’s become one of those things adults like to throw around on the news, or that pops up on TikTok every time there’s another flood, fire, or heatwave. But it’s not just some far-away problem or something for scientists to deal with. It’s real, it’s happening right now, and it’s going to shape the world we live in for the rest of our lives.
So, what exactly is climate change? Simply put, it’s the long-term heating of our planet caused by humans pumping out greenhouse gases from burning fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas. These gases trap heat in the Earth’s atmosphere, a bit like a blanket that’s getting thicker every year. That’s why the average global temperature is rising, and why we’re seeing extreme weather events getting worse, from wildfires in Greece and Canada to floods in Ireland and droughts in Africa.
It’s easy to hear all that and think, “Well, that’s terrible, but what can I do about it?” But that attitude is part of the problem. Because the truth is, we’re the generation that’s going to feel the full impact of climate change and our children will certainly feel this pain.
Last summer was one of the hottest ever recorded in Ireland. Farmers are struggling with unpredictable weather. In some parts of the world, kids our age are walking miles just to get clean water because their rivers have dried up.
To me, climate change is a serious issue not just because of the science, but because of the injustice behind it. The people who are suffering the most are usually the ones who did the least to cause it. Countries in what we once called ‘the third world’ are facing rising sea levels, food shortages, and deadly storms, while huge corporations in richer countries continue to make billions from fossil fuels. Can anyone in this room tell me that this is not wrong?
And here’s the scariest part: scientists say we’re running out of time. If we don’t drastically cut emissions within the next decade, we could reach a tipping point where the damage becomes irreversible. Imagine a time when no amount of recycling or tree planting can fix it. That’s the kind of world we’re heading toward unless something changes, unless we change.
So what do I want done about it? First of all, I want governments to take real, concrete action — not just make promises they forget about after the next election. That means investing in renewable energy like wind and solar, banning new oil and gas projects, and supporting farmers and industries to switch to greener ways of working. It also means holding big corporations accountable for their pollution instead of letting them greenwash their image with a few “eco-friendly” ads.
But it’s not just up to politicians. We have a role to play too. We can make choices like walking or cycling instead of driving, cutting down on fast fashion, eating less meat, and supporting local produce. We can also use our voices. Join climate marches. Speak up in school. Push for change in our communities. Because when young people speak out, people listen. Just look at what Greta Thunberg started when she was our age.
I know it’s easy to feel hopeless like the problem is too big or too late to fix. But giving up is exactly what the fossil fuel companies want us to do. They’d love for us to think it’s out of our hands. But it isn’t. Every bit of action counts. Every person who decides to care makes a difference.
In the end, this isn’t just about saving the planet, it’s about saving our future. The choices we make today will decide what kind of world we inherit tomorrow. And honestly, I don’t want to look back in 30 years and think, “We could have done something, but we didn’t.”
So let’s be the generation that actually does something. Let’s speak up, take action, and make sure our future isn’t on fire.
Thank you