A primary school in Cornwall took part in a poetry and art demonstration at the UN's COP28 climate change conference in an appeal for the world's ocean.

The children from St Just Primary School, as well as others from the British Isles and the United Arab Emirates, made their thoughts known to the policymakers in attendance.

Approximately 400 pupils between the ages of 10-12 co-created an illustrated British-Arabic poetry anthology called 'We Are The Ocean', a part of a larger educational initiative titled 'Schools Across the Ocean'.

The project involved schools from UK locations including the Channel Islands, Cornwall, Devon, and Dorset.

From UAE, schools took part from Dubai, Sharjah, Fujairah, and Abu Dhabi.

Demelza Bolton, head teacher of St Just Primary, said: "The Schools Across the Ocean project has genuinely transformed what we do at St Just Primary.

"The children have been working on sustainability projects together and really thinking about other places around the world and our oceans.

"They feel their voices can be heard and that they can make a change and they are important, and it is going to have a significant impact on their lives now and in the future."

Falmouth Packet: The children from St Just Primary School, as well as others from the British Isles and the United

This initiative paired up 14 coastal schools in the British Isles and UAE, enabling them to learn and collaborate online.

The anthology will be launched formally on the Ocean Day at COP28 (on December 9) at the Greening Education Hub by representatives of the project team.

This team includes members from the University of Exeter, the Emirates Literature Foundation and the UAE’s Ministry of Education, as well as representatives from the British Embassy in UAE.

Dr Sally Flint, creative lead of We Are The Possible said: "We Are The Ocean is a powerful plea by the children to take better care of our blue environments.

"They are the inheritors of this planet and through education, science and art, they have connected with the ocean and their fellow children to create a lasting legacy – one that we hope will resonate with world leaders."

The project has also won the praise of Isobel Abulhoul OBE, Founder, Advisor and Trustee of the Emirates Literature Foundation.

She said, "This project has worked towards providing a wonderful artistic outlet, through poetic expression, to children’s voices – validating the students’ concerns as relevant, urgent, meaningful, and giving a platform to the future generation."