As part of the Erasmus+ sustainability project, a group of students from class 9.B took part in the awareness-raising activity “Climate Freskó,” organized by Michelin. The aim of the event was to introduce the young participants to the scientific foundations of climate change in an interactive and engaging way.

During the workshop, the students worked in two groups. Using the cards provided, they represented the complex processes of climate change by identifying and arranging cause-and-effect relationships. Together they pinpointed the main drivers and analyzed how, and to what extent, human activity contributes to global climate change. They recognized that transportation, the burning of fossil fuels, and deforestation increase the CO₂ concentration in the atmosphere.

These insights also made the risks of the greenhouse effect clear to them: devastating wildfires, the melting of glaciers and ice sheets, rising water temperatures, and more frequent hurricanes. The students understood that climate change also disrupts the water cycle, leading to floods and droughts.

They learned as new knowledge that CO₂ emissions contribute to the acidification of the oceans, which severely hinders calcification for marine organisms—such as pteropods (“sea butterflies”), which are adapted to open-water environments. Moreover, they became aware that these processes destabilize both marine and terrestrial biodiversity.

It also became evident to them that environmental problems have serious impacts on human health. The decline in biodiversity and the extinction of species can give rise to new disease vectors. Falling agricultural yields can trigger famines, which in turn may lead to armed conflict. A new concept they explored was climate migration. The activity helped them appreciate how fortunate we are not to be forced to migrate due to the consequences of climate change.

The workshop achieved its goal: the young participants understood how serious the consequences of their own behavior can be. In the end, the fresco they created was titled “THE TIME FOR CHANGE IS NOW!”—a message expressing that we must take responsibility together and find solutions to mitigate climate change. Finally, the students formulated personal commitments, such as purchasing products with eco-friendly, sustainable packaging, using their own shopping bags, and reducing car use.
Wir danken MICHELIN HUNGÁRIA für die Zusammenarbeit!