The Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature (HSPN) and WWF Greece delivered over 5,600 letters from students across Greece to the Minister of the Environment and Energy and the Ambassador of Brazil to Greece.
A few days before the UN Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Belém, Brazil, a delegation of students met with the Minister of the Environment and Energy, Mr. Stavros Papastavrou, and the Ambassador of Brazil to Greece, Mr. Paulo Roberto Caminha de Castilhos França, to hand over more than 5,600 letters, drawings, and cards from students representing 249 schools across Greece. These messages call for bold measures to address the climate crisis.
The event took place on Friday, October 31, 2025, marking the culmination of a joint initiative by the Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature (HSPN) and WWF Greece—two organizations with long-standing experience in environmental education.
The initiative aimed once again to give students the opportunity to take action as active citizens who care about society and to send a strong message to world leaders about our shared home—the planet—currently suffering from the effects of the climate crisis.
Through their letters and drawings, the children express their understanding of the climate crisis: burning forests, displaced animals and people, and a “sick” planet are just some of the issues they highlight. But they don’t stop at identifying the problem—they also propose solutions: clean energy sources, wildfire prevention, the complete elimination of fossil fuel use, and the protection of nature as an “antidote” to the climate crisis.
Responding to the call of HSPN and WWF Greece, more than 5,600 students from across the country united their voices, hoping that their concerns about the planet’s —and their own— future will inspire the world leaders meeting in Brazil in the coming days to take decisive action to address the climate crisis.
«Children and young people are deeply concerned about the planet’s and their own future, and this is not the first time they have sent their thoughts and proposals to world leaders. It began in 2022, when tens of thousands of young people from around the world, including Greece, united their voices before COP27. Their message traveled from Glasgow to Sharm El-Sheikh through the international relay ‘Running Out of Time,’ organized by the Foundation for Environmental Education. In 2023, more than 4,000 students from HSPN’s networks sent their messages to the Prime Minister before he departed for COP28. This year, the voices are even more numerous. Let’s hope they will be heard!»
said Nikos Petrou, President of the Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature and President of the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE).
Dimitris Karavellas, CEO of WWF Greece, stated:
“Once again, we draw strength and inspiration from the children, who show that they understand climate change, not just as a term but as a reality that has already affected their lives directly. The overwhelming participation of students from all over Greece was not only moving but also a confirmation that both the Greek State and the Global Leaders that will meet in a few days at COP30, must listen to the concerns and the clear messages of children calling for immediate action to ensure a sustainable future for us all.”
The letters and cards are available here.
The map of participating schools is available here.
Photos from the letter handover ceremony are available here.
