I'm at this school climate conference today. It coincides with London Climate Action Week.
This conference is organised by the Green Schools Project, School 21, and WE, and is designed "to provide rigorous knowledge, skills and motivation to allow young people to change the debate in their schools and local communities". It brings together 200 young people aged 9-17 from 10 schools, academics, climate scientists and politicians to discuss what is required from the education sector to respond to the climate crisis. It sets out to inform those young people attending about the climate and ecological crises we face, to empower them to communicate about these, and provide tools to take action in schools and communities. The organisers say that students will gain new skills and knowledge to communicate about climate change that will allow them to create action plans for showing leadership in their schools and communities to change the debate, and develop ideas for what an appropriate response to being in a climate and ecological emergency means for schools.
Speakers include Richard Dunne, Rupert Read and Caroline Russell, and the day will feature experts in climate change, the social psychology of climate change, and those who are already making a difference. These are the key parts of the event:
– Opening speakers – The truth about the climate and ecological crisis
– Workshop 1 – How to communicate about climate change
– Workshop 2 – Taking action in your school and community
– Final speakers and panel
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