Students from more than 20 schools attended another successful Cumbria Youth Climate Summit at Furness Academy in Barrow.
In total 115 students from 23 primary and secondary schools from across Cumbria took part in the event, organised by Cumbria Development Education Centre (CDEC) with support from the wider Zero Carbon Cumbria Partnership members including Westmorland and Furness Council.
This year’s summit was the biggest yet and built on the success of last year’s event at Whitehaven Academy.
The summit provides young people with easy access to a current, real-world conversation on climate issues and the theme of this year’s event - ‘Act Local, Think Global’ - reflected the growing awareness among young people of how local action can contribute to global change.
The keynote speech was given by Jenny Williams (Students Organising Sustainability (SOS)) and the programme for the day was shaped with the help of students themselves and included:
• A marketplace of ideas, featuring stalls from organisations such as Futureproof Cumbria, Cumbria Clothing Collective, and Cumbria Wildlife Trust
• An inspiring photo gallery showcasing charities across Cumbria using sustainable practice and an exhibition where schools showcased their work, including on sustainable fashion and increasing biodiversity in their school grounds and the 'Sing Up for Climate Justice' project involving choirs and training for teachers
• Nine workshops and interactive sessions
• A ‘Speakers’ Corner’ where students were able to share their ideas and passions
• The day closed with a unique fashion show where schools showcased their designs made from pre-loved clothes
One Furness Academy student commented: “The biggest highlight of the day was it clicking in my head how important this actually is.’’
Councillor Janet Battye, Westmorland and Furness Council Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, Education and Skills, was one of four Westmorland and Furness Councillors - along with councillors Tony Callister, Beverley Morgan and Tim Bloomer - who attended the summit.
Councillor Battye said: “It was inspiring to see so many young people from across Cumbria coming together to lead conversations on climate change.
“Events like this demonstrate the power of education not just to inform, but to empower. Our schools are nurturing future leaders and giving students the space to shape solutions to global challenges is one of the most important things we can do.’’
Councillor Giles Archibald, Westmorland and Furness Council Cabinet Member for Climate, Biodiversity and Environmental Services, said: “Supporting events like the Youth Climate Summit is vital. It ensures that the next generation not only understands the challenges we face but is empowered to be part of the solution.
“By bringing the summit into schools, we’re making the conversation more accessible and creating a platform where young people can influence the future from the heart of their own communities.”
Alison Hooper, Climate Action Projects Coordinator for CDEC, commented: “The theme of 'Act Local, Think Global' had clearly resonated with the schools and the structure of the day provided the opportunity for students to come together, have their voices heard, share the great work they are doing in their schools leaving with greater knowledge, confidence and agency that what they are doing is making a difference.’’
The Cumbria Youth Climate Summit is part of the Zero Carbon Cumbria Programme, a collaborative effort working to achieve net zero carbon emissions in the county by 2037.