Our Eco Ambassadors took to the world stage at the COP30 summit. They conducted an online interview with Professor Matt Frost, a prominent marine scientist and climate change expert (amongst other things), Head of the International Office at Plymouth Marine Laboratory.
The Professor has attended many COPs in the past and is therefore an eminent person to have had the opportunity to interview! Organised by Ocean Generation, via our alumna, Liberty Denman, the pupils were part of the COP30 Virtual Ocean Pavilion.
The pupils’ questions included:
“How can governments encourage private companies to not use single use plastic?”
“Are you planning to introduce whale friendly cruise routes to reduce noise pollution in the seas?”
“Does creating the infrastructure in order to host Cop 30, and transporting leaders there, outweigh the positive outcomes of the conference? Do you assess the carbon footprint and is there a plan to offset this?”
“Is Cop 30 going to be used for fossil fuel deals like the last one?”
“What is the extent of the impact of pumping carbon back into the ocean underneath the seabed?”
“What key messages would you like us to share with our school community in order to look after the oceans better?”
The other young people participating in the VOP are between 16 and 25 – so the Ballard pupils were by far the youngest (especially Toby in Year 3).
“The Professor, who was answering their questions, and Dr Gemma Connell, who curated the event, were blown away by the quality of our pupils’ questions and how poised the children were. I think they sensed that the children were genuinely motivated to secure the future of the planet… and Ballard’s pupils are the youngest people taking part in the Virtual Ocean Pavilion, which is very cool…” Mr Alex Bellars
Well done, Toby, Leo, Lily, Sean and Freddie.
You may watch our wonderful pupils in action, interviewing Professor Matt Frost for the COP30 Virtual Ocean Pavilion here.
You can also register to attend the Virtual Ocean Pavilion itself, here.
It was an incredible opportunity for our pupils to interview someone who, over the past many COPs, has rubbed shoulders with presidents and prime ministers. Thank you to Mr Alex Bellars and alumna, Miss Liberty Denman, for helping to organise this.
