Tony Costin speaks to Katie Ferneyhough from the Students' Union's Greenpad team about something called COP21 and how if we don't do something about it, "we're all cooked".
In December this year a conference will take place in Paris that will discuss and decide the future of the environment in 198 countries around the world, but not enough people are aware of it.
COP21 stands for the 21st ‘conference of parties' and is an annual event where they review the member countries' commitment to reducing greenhouse gases and mankind's impact on the environment. Although the conference may be a yearly affair, this year's is one of the most important to date as the conference will aim to agree a legally-binding deal with the UN, with the benchmark of 100% clean energy by 2050 and 80% of remaining fossil fuels staying in the ground.
To make the UK government sit up and listen, a national march has been organised in London on November 29th and Staffordshire University students have been getting involved.
GreenPad are a part of the Students' Union and help our students be as environmentally responsible as possible while they study. They also work with students to organise campaigns and events for the students to get involved with. In anticipation of the march, Greenpad commissioned a giant banner covered with messages and student signatures from both Stoke and Stafford campuses.
Now they want to meet with local MP Tristram Hunt to ensure all those voices are heard.
GreenPad coordinator Katie Ferneyhough spoke to us about the conference and plans for the future.
"This is a time in history when we either make or break the world. It is the chance for governments to step up, and make tangible targets to reduce carbon emissions. This is our planet too, it doesn't belong to big business and government, so we must speak up," she said.
"The government is not doing enough to deliver on their emissions targets. It's leaving everyday individuals and national charities to drive change from the bottom up, not the top down. It's crucial we keep 80% of fossil fuels in the ground, because if we draw up anymore, that's it – we're cooked!
"If we go past a two degree temperature rise, we simply cannot function as a species, making extreme weather (hurricanes, flooding, tsunamis etc.) the norm. It worries me this isn't a concern for our government.
"If we want to keep fossil fuels in the ground, we need a replacement - hence 100% clean energy. We as a first world country - with all the technology and money at our finger tips - should be leading the way, we have no excuse."
Katie explained that there was lots students could do to help as "every individual has a part to play in changing the world". A lot of what students can do is just reviewing their everyday actions and reading the Big Green Guide, which has been handed out since Welcome Week, for top tips on how to change your everyday behaviours to make a world of difference.
"Another way to help is to get involved in what we are up to," Katie added.
"We are constantly running different campaigns and events in order to get students involved in sustainability and crucially teach them how to live more sustainably. All our events are completely free and offer some great CV experience too."