Reflections on a summer that brought climate change closer to home
This summer has been a stark reminder that climate change is no longer a distant threat. From prolonged periods of hot weather to wildfires across the UK, many of us have found ourselves thinking differently about our schools, communities and the future. The Green Schools Project team reflected on what has stayed with them. Our Comms Manager, Georgina Belcher, discusses her experience…
The recent heatwave has stayed with me in a way I wasn’t expecting.
Like many people, I found myself seeking out shade whenever I could. My toddler and I escaped the house before 8am so she could unleash some energy before a day of being trapped inside. “Park please” is one of her favourite quotes but “too hot, park shut” became her updated version. We spent an hour walking under the trees – the difference that made was remarkable, and it made me think differently about the role our built environment plays in helping us cope with a changing climate. It also made me think about those who don’t have access to cool homes, green spaces or safe places to escape the heat. Climate change doesn’t affect everyone equally, and the heatwave brought that into focus.
In a similar vein, I also felt a tremendous sense of frustration – so many conversations I had with people involved us discussing the heat and the scary state of our world. Yet, in the same breath, they’d tell me they were ordering an air con unit for their house.
The part that has lingered most for me, though, happened at home. Each night I sat with my 21-month-old daughter as she cried in her bedroom, unable to settle because it remained over 32°C. Watching her struggle with something so fundamental as being too hot to sleep left me feeling helpless. It also made climate change feel less like an abstract future challenge and more like something already shaping our lives.
I work at Green Schools Project because I believe climate education is essential. We help teachers and young people understand climate change and equip them with the knowledge and confidence to respond. I’ve always believed in this mission, but last week it felt different. Holding my daughter in the middle of the night, I felt the importance of that work more personally than ever before.
The heat felt like a glimpse of the future we’re moving towards, and I found myself wondering why moments like these don’t create a greater sense of urgency. I heard so many remarks of “Britain always has heatwaves”, as if that was reason enough to dismiss any worries or bury the significance of what we’re living through.
I recently watched the People’s Emergency Briefing film, which reinforced that feeling. I found it a sobering watch, yet there was also some hope. It reminded me that while the future isn’t predetermined, the choices we are making right now matter enormously. We still have the opportunity to change course and that alone is reason enough to keep working towards a better future.