The island’s scouts have a new environment badge to work towards.

The Scout Association of the Isle of Man has announced it is adopting a Unesco biosphere badge which will be available to members of all its age groups.

To earn it, Beavers, Cubs, Scouts and Explorers will undertake challenges relating to the UN’s sustainable development goals, or global goals, as they are known.

Geoffrey Boot, Minister for Environment, Food and Agriculture, visited Scouts at Peel to meet members and launch the badge.

Mr Boot said: ’Young people care passionately about the challenges affecting our planet and our island and want to be a big part of the solution.

’From taking climate action to reducing inequality, the Global Goals mirror our own actions in the Isle of Man government to contribute to a more sustainable world.

’It is wonderful that our Scouts of all ages will adopt, and work towards, this badge, and these aims, in innovative ways.’

Girl Guiding Isle of Man adopted a Biosphere badge earlier this year and, so far, more than 170 members have earned it by fulfilling tasks relating to the Global Goals, ranging from collecting for the Isle of Man Food Bank to studying the size and activities of whales.

Gil Costain-Salway, the Scouts’ deputy island commissioner for the south added: ’As per our motto, scouts learn skills for life and we encourage our Scouts, whatever their age, to be aware of the world around them, to value it and care for it.

Minister Geoffrey Boot launches the biosphere badge