The Champions spoke to Mr Meacher about the environmental concerns of young people across the UK.

Rhys:
Do you think the World Summit can really solve the world's problems?
Meacher:
It's necessary. All the world leaders have to meet together and come to agreement. But it's very easy to lose sight of what it's all about. It's very easy not to realise that this is about something of enormous importance to the future of mankind. I hope it's going to be worth it.

Rhys:
We went to Soweto yesterday which we found quite emotional -the scenes we saw - the people and schools. Do you think the Summit can help the people there?
Meacher:
I went to Soweto back in October and it's incredible - the difference between the rich and poor areas so close together. If we don't do something to help the poor we will fail. The huge wealth in the world is very badly distributed. We have a commitment to rid absolute poverty from half the world's population by 2015. You will have to hold us to that and help deliver it.

Tim:
What do you think about the world's rainforests.
Meacher:
They are part of the system of the climate and atmosphere on which the earth depends. I'm not joking - if we chop down all of the rainforests - human life will not be the same again. They are essential for our survival. What we cut down we must replace.

Tim:
How important really is recycling?
Meacher:
Humans' impact in terms of waste is huge, we have to reduce it. In Britain we have a waste problem. There's no reason why there should be any waste. We should be able to take our waste and re-use it again.

Peter:
What's the government doing to help the problem with fresh water?
Meacher:
There are 6 billion people in the world, and over 1 billion of them do not have fresh water they can use. I hope we are going to come to an agreement for world leaders to make a commitment to all these people that by a certain date they will make available fresh water to all the people of the planet.

Tim:
So what's going to be your first act of sustainability when you get back to Britain?
Meacher:(Laughs)
I think to get on my bicycle, to try and abandon the car and re-cycle more. I have got to carry out all of these things in my life, but what really matters is that I join with others. It is a huge team of us who have got this message and I believe it is a message that will transform the world.