In recent months there has been a lot of talk about the need to act quickly to save the Earth from the effects of climate change underway. Despite the emphasis of the last period this is not a problem today. Already in 2015, the UN launched a major project to improve the life of our planet and its inhabitants.
After having discussed at length in which fields it was most urgent and necessary to intervene, 17 global, universal and therefore valid for all objectives were identified. They range in many sectors: they concern the economy, the environment, social relations and collaboration between states. They aim to improve education, health globally, but also to create more sustainable cities, preserve natural habitats and seas, as well as reduce discrimination and inequality.
The overall plan has been called "Agenda 2030". The name alone helps to understand how important it is to act now if significant results are to be achieved on all the issues proposed and in all parts of the world. 2030 is, in fact, now behind the 'angle. The strength of the Agenda is that progress must be achieved for each individual and for the whole of humanity, with particular attention to the weakest. In short, no one must be left behind in this journey and everyone, consequently, they must do their part, even if it is not always easy to understand what to do in practice.
Help comes a book designed to help children discover the 2030 Agenda and become aware and active citizens. It is “We can change the world” (Mondadori, 2021, pp. 224, also e-book) by Rossella Köhler, geographer and author of school manuals. The volume, enriched with illustrations by Ilaria Zanellato, is presented as a simple and clear guide which, thanks to informative insights and focus on real stories, tells us what we can do to help our planet.
We ask Rossella Köhler what are the main “ingredients” she used for her book.
“At this historic moment, the 2030 Agenda touches on all the key socio-economic and environmental issues that we must address for the future of the planet.
I therefore wanted to explain the Sustainable Development Goals in accessible language, which is not found in official documents. I also wanted to tell about projects that have had an impact on reality, perhaps with children as protagonists, to show that something can be done, leaving room for hope and optimism, which very often leave us adults. But we cannot and must not extinguish them in the younger generations ”.
The book opens with the phrase "no one excluded" ... how should children understand it?
“There is a double meaning of this statement: on the one hand everyone must benefit from the progress, on the other hand everyone is responsible, therefore every individual, whatever his age. Furthermore, this sentence contains a nice message of inclusion (pardon the pun) because it overcomes the vision of 'poor them ...' and leads to the phase of rights for all ”.
In your opinion, are the youngest receptive to these issues linked to progress and the protection of the planet?
"I certainly expected their involvement on these issues, but I must say that in the meetings I have had with the classes in recent months I was even more surprised by the attention and also the new concrete ideas to solve the problems".
Tell us ...
“One of the sections that I like the most in the book is certainly the 'What can I do'. This section urges them to an operation that, going beyond the theoretical approach, is absolutely necessary for them. On the other hand, I believe that it is often boys and girls who educate families in virtuous and sustainable behavior, rather than the other way around ”.