Sustainability can seem like a luxury concept, especially considering the cost of solar panels or the price of organic foods. It is not easy to ignore the inequalities of many sustainable options and, given their unique Bermudian perspective, the students participating in the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute’s Youth Climate Summit programme are conscious about these issues.

They have directly experienced the impacts of a disrupted global supply chain and observed the increasing cost of imported products attributed to hiked fuel prices. These circumstances are exactly why our youth are involved in this programme and motivated to develop their own projects to tackle such issues.

But we don’t always have to look into the future for solutions to climate-change inequalities. Necessity was the driving force behind Bermuda’s freshwater management system and this solution has persisted largely because it is equitable, economic and renewable.

It is this same necessity for food security that has driven our YCS Climate Justice Team in the direction of a community garden project. Interestingly, this same necessity for fresh reliable food was the trigger behind the ingenious idea of the NourishBot. Founders, Linda M. Lee and James Brake introduced their solution to YCS students Moriah Bridgewater, Fabiloa Adams, Isabella Gaugain, Kahlil Smythe and Kayla McCarthy on May 19. The founders shared how they developed a low-maintenance polyculture growing system for domestic use, tweaking their design over many years before launching a high-yielding hydroponics system, which grows up to 50 per cent faster than regular soil systems, produces five times more food in a given space using less water/nutrients and is fully self-sufficient.

Such automation is welcome news to those of us who lack gardening experience or have failed green fingers. Moreover, this solution is digitalised through a customised, solar-powered mini computer that regulates the water input, checks the pH levels of the soil and even e-mails you a record of growth, using a camera attached to the planter box. It is truly a modern growing experience and something our Climate Justice Team were eager to explore.

The YCS students purchased one complete system and a starter kit, which arrived in Bermuda in early July. The team, supported by YCS participant and local gardening expert Zayne Sinclair, plan to set up this system and offer their organic produce through local farmers’ markets. In addition, they plan to replicate the NourishBot system using locally sourced planting medium and seeds, thus assessing its viability for food production in Bermuda. If this solution can be customised locally, it could eventually progress into a part-time opportunity for our youth.

Strengthening local food production was one of the five categories of change suggested by participants during the launch of the YCS programme. Another category of change identified by participants was a transition to renewable energy. If resources, time and money were unlimited, our youth wanted Bermuda to do more in the green-energy sector. This is a formidable wish, but the most frequent suggestion arising from the summit. Their ideas include policy reform for renewables, an introduction of more subsidies for green energy and electric cars, plus a mix of energy solutions such as solar (mainly domestic), wind and even underwater turbines. With this strong desire in mind, we requested a visit to Belco to better understand what this organisation is doing to support such a vision.

On May 21, the YCS students visited Belco for a first-hand account of the sustainability strategy of this organisation. Our students were given a tour of the facility and shown the instruments used to measure air quality. While impressed with these efforts — eg, electric service vehicles, paperless office, etc — their interest remained intent on the renewable agenda. Belco representatives emphasised their organisation’s understanding that fossil fuels are not the future and shared its intentions to change, first by transiting to natural gas, and eventually a full changeover to renewables. They also spoke about preliminary investigations into an offshore wind farm for Bermuda.

One Belco spokesman believes the company could be 100 per cent renewable by 2050. Of course, such a transition would require a considerable investment by Belco but the company seems committed to this transformation. Our youth were impressed with these prospects but not shy to mention that this leap forward for Belco should fully consider Bermuda’s unique environment. Solar power was also mentioned as a vital part of the energy mix and the need for local residents to consider solar panels and communal battery systems so they can contribute to this energy changeover.

Through continued discussions and field trips, the YCS students have learnt that necessity is one of the greatest drivers of sustainable development, and we extend our thanks to our founding partners HSBC and Axa XL for their generous support and seed money for these essential youth projects.

Our programme will continue to cultivate an understanding and appreciation for the complexities of adapting to climate change. We look forward to enrolling new students in the upcoming 2022 Youth Climate Summit, taking place from November 21 to 26.

• Rosemarie McMahon, PhD is the consulting director to the Youth Climate Programme, a Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute initiative. To learn more about the Youth Climate Summit and follow the participants’ journey, visit www.YCSBA.com or follow them on social media @ycsbda