On Thursday of this week we in the UK will vote in what will be the most important election of our lives.

An election that will determine how this country responds to the climate change crisis. We now know that, unless this rapidly deepening crisis is addressed speedily and radically, it will entirely destroy the world as we know it. (Indeed, Professor Jem Bendell and other professionals in sustainability management, policy and research suggest that it may already be too late to address the causes of all-but-inevitable near term social collapse).

How UK citizens vote is, of course, entirely their choice. The purpose of this post is not to ask you to vote for a particular party (however much I might want to do that). Rather this is a request, from somebody who has spent a lifetime working with young people in Further and Higher Education, that you consider very carefully indeed what is really at stake in this election. 

Important as issues such as Brexit and the National Health are today, they may all too rapidly pale into insignificance besides the environmental, social and psychological impact of the deepening crisis generated by climate change. A crisis that will inevitably have the greatest impact on those currently too young to vote.   

If you have not already done so, please consider this situation very carefully before you cast your vote. It could make the difference between electing a UK government that pays lip-service to addressing this crisis while really focusing on conducting ‘business-as-usual’ and one that will actually make some real attempt to avert the crisis, or at least work towards mitigating its worst consequences.

Thank you.

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