Youth Climate Summit to take place this November

The Youth Climate Summit has been launched, which is a virtual week of online events, bringing schools from around the UK together to get on the Climate Action Map and make pledges for the planet.  

It will take place during the week of what would have been the COP 26 Summit in Glasgow - 9-13 November.

The Youth Climate Summit has been put together by a dedicated group of teachers with the support of environmental charity Global Action Plan, who are hosting the event on the Transform Our World teacher resource hub.   

Transform Our World is funded through the #iwill Fund, which is made possible thanks to a £50 million joint investment from The National Lottery Community Fund and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) to support young people to access high quality social action opportunities, such as volunteering and campaigning, around the issues that matter to them.  

With 136 sessions across the week - for primaries, secondaries and all ages - as well as careers sessions, teacher CPD and film viewings, the Youth Climate Summit schedule offers a wide range of activities encouraging all schools across the UK to get involved.  

The week will close on Friday 13th November when young people will summarise and present the pledges made during the week to an expert panel. The pledges will form part of a rallying call for all UK schools to sign up to be Carbon Zero by 2030 through the Let’s Go Zero campaign run by climate charity Ashden, which builds on calls to government.  
 
Sonja Graham Co-CEO at Global Action Plan says “The Youth Climate Summit is not just for the school Eco Club - it is for every young person and teacher in the UK. We know school students are worried about the future, this a chance for classes to come together to talk about what they love about our planet and how they can act on shared concerns. We cannot all be Greta - but we do all have a role to play and that role is important.“  
 
Sarah Hannafin, Senior Policy Adviser at the National Association of Headteachers (NAHT) says: “This virtual summit is an exciting opportunity for schools to access a wide range of themed activities for both pupils and staff. And schools don’t need to be green champions already - the Youth Climate Summit is a great place to start, as well as build on, your schools’ approach to teaching about, and taking action, on environmental issues.
 
Emma Powell, Assistant Principal, Darlinghurst Academy (primary), Leigh-on-Sea, Essex “We support the Summit because climate change is the biggest issue we have to face as a country and as a planet. It's important we educate our children, parents and staff so they can prepare and do all we can to prevent this catastrophe.”  
 
Harriet Lamb, Chief Executive of Ashden says “The Youth Climate Summit is a great chance for schools across the country to show their commitment to climate action. Ashden is proud to launch the Let’s Go Zero campaign at the Summit, enabling schools to declare their aim to become zero carbon by 2030, and call for more support from government to reach this goal”  
 
Matt Larsen-Daw, Education Manager at WWF-UK says “It’s great to see so many different organisations coming together for the Youth Climate Summit with the shared goal of helping schools play a part in shaping a sustainable future. Schools have a pivotal role in communities and their actions can send ripples of positive change across society, and - through the values and skills they nurture in their students - into the future.”