The University of Wollongong is celebrating Global Climate Change Week (GCCW) on campus this week, a global initiative to raise awareness of climate change and encourage action to address it.
The five-day event covered discussions, seminars, and climate action events, uniting academics, the local community, and policymakers under the theme ‘Connecting Minds for a Sustainable Climate Future’.
Associate Professor Belinda Gibbons, who coordinates this year’s GCCW activities at UOW, shared her thoughts prior to the event.
“Our focus this year is on ways we can discover hope in our collective efforts to address climate change,” she said
“We have prepared inspiring stories, knowledge-sharing, and important discussions on how partnerships can maximise actions to protect our planet.”
Several clubs and societies such as Wollongong City Council and UOW Sustainable Futures Committee joined the campus on Wednesday, aiming to raise awareness, inspire action, and foster discussions on the pressing issues of climate change. Free sustainable food, music, and workshops are also found on the day.
Ms. Hayley Schultz from the Wollongong Council stall said she was excited to help people get involved in protecting the environment through the event.
“There’s plenty of different ways people can get involved in reducing our emissions and feeling better about climate change like planting trees and reducing plastic use,” she said
“Our main message for the day is about single-use plastic, particularly plastic coffee cups. They haven’t been recyclable, and gone to the landfill, so the better thing to do is to have a reusable cup instead.”
With the hope of using education to raise awareness of protecting the environment, various free activities were held and attracted students.
Mrs. Giuliana Ferrari from WIRES, Australia’s largest wildlife rescue organisation, brought out information on native wildlife to UOW students, especially international students, hoping to increase engagement in the future.
“The fact is people need to know how we can help bigger things over small things, that’s how we protect our environment,” Mrs Ferrari said
The Global Climate Change Week, which is a global movement, started at UOW in 2015. Local organisations such as Healthy Cities Illawarra and Wollongong City Council, along with UOW students and researchers from diverse disciplines and faculties, engage in activities that raise awareness, inspire behaviour change, and drive political momentum around climate policy.
Global Climate Change Week celebrated at UOW campus
By Emily Nguyen
