Children's Perspective on the Most Important First Step in Saving the Planet

Editors of news for children around the world were asking their young audiences – those who will be most affected by climate change – to suggest the most important first step in saving the planet. Here are children's messages to the leaders what to do next on climate.

The global project "How To Save Our Planet - Step 1," initiated by Global Youth and News Media, provided a platform for children, one of the most vulnerable groups in the face of climate change, to have their voices heard and express their thoughts on saving the planet. It recognized the importance of giving children their media outlet, especially in an era marked by declining trust in mainstream media and the proliferation of disinformation.

This approach of empowering young minds and seeking their solutions to pressing global issues, as demonstrated by Časoris, not only engaged children at various education levels but also fostered a sense of responsibility among them.

The initiative showcased the significance of a solution-focused approach in journalism, where young journalists and students were encouraged to profile climate champions and contribute to meaningful discourse on climate change solutions, ultimately emphasizing the importance of youth perspectives in shaping our planet's future.

As a media literacy education project, #HowToSaveOurPlanetStep1 contributed to three significant achievements:

1. Empowering Youth Voices: By providing a platform for children and students to engage in discussions about climate change, the project empowered young individuals to voice their concerns, ideas, and solutions, ensuring that their perspectives are valued and included in critical global conversations. They were granted the experience of being recognized as high-quality and credible contributors on topics that are important to them by themselves.
2. Fostering Global Awareness: By translating and sharing children's messages and contributions with a wider global audience, the project fostered a sense of global awareness and solidarity, emphasizing that climate change is a collective challenge that requires collaborative efforts across borders and generations.
3. Enhancing Critical Thinking: The project equipped participants with the skills to critically analyze and evaluate information, making them more discerning consumers of media.

From Slovenia, Časoris, an award-winning free online newspaper for children, is one of the participants in the mentioned project.

Dr. Sonja Merljak Zdovc, Časoris founder, explains why children's contribution to the media has to be encouraged and mentored: "I think that we put a tremendous burden on the shoulders of our youth: the responsibility for the future of our planet. It is only right then to listen to what they have to say. We as news creators for children can open up media space for their thoughts and ideas. Together then we can find possible solutions for the survival of the planet on which they will live much longer than will we adults."

In this first phase of the  #HowToSaveOurPlanetStep1 project, Časoris collected suggestions in the form of artwork, drawings, videos, and texts for publication in the run-up to Earth Day 2023.