Bird? Plane? No, hero with green mission

Published on Tuesday 26 May 2009 22:02

MAXIMUS, saviour of worlds, protector of humankind, has been given a mission by the President of the Earth: stop the planet from heating up, and do it fast.

An academic from Edinburgh University has invented a new superhero, Maximus, to inspire children to help tackle climate change.

His cape-wearing creation has pollution-detecting goggles, flies at super-speed and has the strength to fight aliens and monsters.

However, he discovers all his superpowers cannot stop climate change, and he resorts to getting help from two children who teach him about how to be environmentally friendly, aided by their school's climate club.

Dr David Reay, the author, usually devotes his time to teaching university students, as director of a new carbon management course at Edinburgh University.

However, the father of two hopes his latest project, called "Your Planet Needs You!", will inspire younger minds.

"The children show Maximus that he can be a climate superhero using techniques like renewable energy and composting and wormeries," said Dr Reay.

"I have always wanted a superhero for climate change – that someone would come out of the ether and be able to stop it. But we know that's not going to happen.

"I wanted to use this to show that there is not one person or President of the Earth who is going to solve the problems." Dr Reay told The Scotsman he wanted to write a book that would entertain, as well as teach.

"There's so much doom and gloom about this. We are always emphasising what a huge threat it is and we use doom-mongering language but actually there is this opportunity to change the future and avoid the worst impacts of climate change.

"Kids have more invested in this than anyone else. They will live with the legacy. Over the next 50 years these children are going to be the taxi drivers, journalists, the world leaders. They are going to be a key part of tackling climate change but also they are going to have to live with the consequences."

He has already tested out the book on his two children, Maddy, seven and Molly, two.

He hopes his book may have a similar impact on some children as Sir David Attenborough's nature programmes had on him.

"There are usually key moments in childhood. For me it was watching David Attenborough and it gave me a real respect for the world and nature and wildlife.

"If this book can help one child to respect a bit more about their role in the planet then it will have done some good."