Be the Change’s Youth Blog Series highlights blogs written by university student interns at Be the Change Earth Alliance. In the blogs, the interns reflect on their experience completing “Action Packs,” which are learning resources that guide students in research, critical thinking and tangible action related to a global sustainability topic.
Summary of Action Pack
This Action Pack alerts students about the ocean acidification crisis. Students will learn that human activities have released too much carbon emissions, and this excessive 
amount of carbon is being absorbed by Earth’s oceans. In nature, the carbon cycle is a natural process where the balance of carbon release and carbon absorption has sustained terrestrial ecosystems and marine ecosystems for a very long time. However, the excessive carbon particles in oceans are turning ocean water into a coercive and acidic environment that has become dangerous to calcifying organisms, such as molluscs and crustaceans, by making it difficult for these organisms to survive and build shells. The Action Pack outlines how the disruption of oceans’ pH balance will affect marine food webs, the fishing industry and coastal communities’ economic well-being. The Action Pack also encourages students to reflect on the environmental, social, and economic consequences of excessive carbon emissions and ocean acidification.
The Action Pack offers many ideas on how students can partake in raising awareness and how they can help to reduce carbon emissions. Students can research their school’s dependence on fossil fuels, calculate the current carbon footprint of their household, and encourage friends to join them in reducing their CO2 impact on the ocean for 1 month. This Action Pack is a great resource for students to learn about ocean acidification and the importance of carbon emission reduction.
My Reflection
After completing this Action Pack, I looked into clubs fighting climate change at my school. Myself and many others vowed to limit air travel to reduce carbon emissions. We signed a petition to limit staff from traveling for work related reasons. Later, I found a news article stating that faculty members from various schools are joined together in signing said petition. This action will lead to tangible change in the reduction of carbon emissions caused by academic air travel. I felt that my actions, along with others, really caused change in the world, and helped our oceans!
The 2023/2024 school year is wrapping up, and what a fantastic year it has been! As the summer break approaches, we’ve been reminiscing about all the wonderful things we’ve had the opportunity to be involved with this year. From educational resource development to workshop delivery, our staff and volunteers have put their hearts and souls into the work we do here.
Introducing the Action Network: Action network map - Be The Change Earth Alliance
Be The Change is launching an exciting new resource to help connect passionate youth and educators across BC! This site showcases the stories of students and educators and highlights the actions taken by our network of changemakers through an interactive map.
Happy Earth Day! Today is a great opportunity to take a moment to connect with nature, practice gratitude, and reflect on the past few months as the seasons begin to change. The past couple months at Be The Change have been busy and rewarding, and we’d love to share some of our favourite moments with you!
