António Guterres, the UN Secretary-General, greets 2020. Climate change is highligthed as "a clear and present danger", but this is also a message of hope addressed to the world's youth. 2020 marks the 75th anniversary of the UN and the beginning of a Decade of Action for the Sustainable Development Goals.

Watch the video and share your thoughts on the Forum.

Keep up the good work!

There have been great contributions to the forum. You have all made a great work and we want to briefly highlight some of your ideas. They are a recognition for your work but also serve as inspiration to continue sharing them with your partners.

1. Most students agree that "We enter 2020 with uncertainty and insecurity all around".

Berat, Irem B., Mehmet and Fatma higlighted the ongoing armed conflicts - wars. Ömer, Emine, Lucia M., focused on the Australian fires. Zaida B. draws our attention to how dangerous our planet might become because of climate change. On the other comments there is a strong feeling that the students can make a difference and that with so many crises, catastrophes and problems they don't know what to expect from this changing world. They do know that it's time to do something about it.

2. "Climate change is not only a long-term problem but a clear and present danger."

The students reflected about this message and for them our future is in danger (most students from Portugal), because "our planet became less livable" (Berat A.) and "the situation is getting worse every day" (Irem B. and Marc M.).

Izan O., Minerva M., Ivan L., Naiara L., Javier P., Alex M., Jessica M. and Omar Y. named some effects of climate change:

• the poles are melting;
• temperatures are rising;
• heat waves and droughts;
• species are being extinct;
• CO2 emissions;
• air pollution;
• destruction of ecosystems;
• ...

The students leave us a message "this has to change" (Omar Y.), "we are strong (...), united we can help the world" (Paula G.), stop climate change (Ömer D.).

3. World's young people role

Most students agree that young people are the greatest source of hope! Why?

• young people can produce new ideas to solve problems (Irem S.);
• the environmental problems will be more intense when we are adults (Bruna A.);
• in a few years they (young people) will be able to change the planet (Tomás S.);
• young people must protect the world for their own future (Fatma H.);
• young people have a lot of good thoughts and they can solve the problems (Paula G.);
• the future is in the hands of young people and young people should be supported in this regard (Ömer D.)
• we know all the problems (...) and a lot of solutions too (Yaren G.).

However, Iker P. reminds us that even "many young people" all together, might not be enough to "change the world easily"!

4. Decade of action

Young people should keep speaking up, because we should fight for our planet (Bruna A.), a lot of people that don't realize that climate changes is a real problem (Pedro S.), to raise awareness about climate change (Andreia C.), if we stand together we are stronger (João M.), until something happens (Lara J.).

The students also believe they, as young people, should keep thinking big, because that way they can change everything (Berat A.), find more ideas to save the planet (Tomás S.), reduce global warming (Yaren G.) as the future depends on us (Leonor C. and Fatma H.).

A few students identify themselves with keep pushing the boundaries and keep up the pressure in order to change something (Ömer D., Carolina L.).