TODAY we have reported stories about our environment and the world we live in.

On page 19 activists in East Sussex have urged the authority to declare a “climate emergency”.

And on page 23 we have an equally important story about the Great British Spring Clean, organised by Keep Britain Tidy, to clear up litter from beaches and beauty spots.

They follow a report yesterday about campaigners’ concerns to urge council planners to think of cutting greenhouse gas emissions on new developments.

In recent weeks, we have seen schoolchildren calling for action on climate change, and given the stark warning from scientists, it is time that all of us act to make a difference.

Acts such as a beach clean and a tidy up may seem small by comparison to the mighty issue of cutting global carbon dioxide emissions.

But given the state of our oceans and the drastic impact our waste is having on wildlife, the issue is very much linked and just as important.

In the past, many products were in recycled packaging or better still, in no packaging at all. There is a great deal of wisdom to learn from.

Big decisions about the way our world is organised and run have been taken by governments, big businesses, and councils in our name.

It can often leave us feeling powerless, allowing the world and the places we love to become worse in the future.

So only by challenging these big powers in our society can we hope to change things for the better. It starts by looking out of our window, and taking action ourselves.