This week Year 12 students were treated to a visit from world-renowned Canadian science journalist and author, Alanna Mitchell.

Alanna has come to New Zealand to be the main speaker at a series of events in Christchurch, Wellington and Auckland held by MAS, an insurance and financial services firm committed to sustainability and responsible investing. But she wanted to do one more thing while she was here, speak to the very generation sparking climate change action.

After more than 30 years of following the world's most celebrated scientists around on their expeditions, Alanna had a lot to share with the students - from describing how our global ocean is changing and the factors causing this, to what we can do to help.

Hands were going up across the Performing Arts Centre with questions for Alanna about how much time we had left and what we could do to turn back the clock. Alanna’s message was clear - there is still hope, but it’s time for ambitious action and it’s young voices like theirs that are making adults sit up and listen.

Molly Smeele, a Year 11 student and climate change activist said: “I think it’s really important that young people, especially women, get to hear adults and other women speak who are passionate about the environment and understand the effects of climate change so they can be empowered to take action themselves. Because it is our future and we need to take action.”

Speaking after her talk Alanna said: “I hope my talk was inspiring to the students because they are our future. It’s so inspiring to hear about what they are doing - they are going to change the world, I know it. I feel so much more hopeful now.”

Note for parents: MAS provides insurance and financial services for NZ professionals, including doctors, dentists, and vets, as well as other professions including architects, engineers and lawyers. Find out more here: www.mas.co.nz