Students given opportunity to debate climate issues at COP-style event
Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils' third Schools Green Skills Summit will take place on 13 November.
It follows the councils' summit last year which saw:
• 100% of students leaving with a better understanding of how they can tackle climate change
• 100% of teachers looking to recommend the conference to peers
As delegates gather for COP31 in Türkiye, year 8 and 9 pupils from across 8 schools in Babergh and Mid Suffolk are getting ready to tackle real-world climate change challenges in the COP-style event. etc
The students will represent 16 nations, as at COP31 in Türkiye later this year, debating real-world climate change challenges and emulating real-life negotiations.
The aim is to engage young people from a wide variety of socio-economic backgrounds about climate change and its effects.
The event will be facilitated by InterClimate Network, and hosted by Thurston Community College with the hope opening up opportunities for local action and sustainable career choices for the next generation.
Schools taking part are:
• Royal Hospital School
• East Bergholt High School
• Holbrook Academy
• Thomas Gainsborough High School
• Finborough School
• Thurston Community College
• Stowmarket High School
• Debenham High School
Students will also be encouraged to think about the local action they and their schools can take to help tackle the climate crisis and get towards net zero.
There will be the chance to ask several Q&A panel members questions and explore the stalls of climate-focused organisations as part of a mini green skills careers fair.
The Q&A panel members include:
• Cllr Helen Davies, Cabinet member for Climate Change, Nature Recovery & Biodiversity at Babergh District Council
• Cllr Andy Mellen, Leader of Mid Suffolk District Council
• Caroline Fright, Co-founder and Managing Director at Carbon Numbers
• Adam Mitchell, Social Value Manager for M Group
• Katie Severn, Global Sustainability Manager for Treatt
• Kate Dixon, Head of Sustainability at Muntons
• Alonso Sanchez, Senior Project Manager for National Grid’s Norwich to Tilbury project
• Jamie Young, Head of Design Management at Morgan Sindall
Stallholders include:
• National Grid
• Morgan Sindall
• Carbon Numbers
• Muntons
• Treatt
• M Group
• Denny Bros
• Suffolk New College
• University of Suffolk
• Castons
• Harvest Green Development
• Houghton Group
• Mid Suffolk Youth Council
• Sustainable Suffolk
• Chloe Robison-Smith – BMSDC Nature Recovery
The event has been fully and generously sponsored by:
• National Grid
• Morgan Sindall
• Gateway 14
• Carbon Numbers
• Muntons
• Treatt
• M Group
• Denny Bros
• Suffolk New College
• University of Suffolk
• Castons
• Harvest Green Development
• Houghton Group
• Poundfield
Cllr Helen Davies, cabinet member for climate change, nature recovery and biodiversity at Babergh District Council, said:
“This is the third year running our schools’ debate like this and the fact that is it a huge success speaks volumes about our young people’s commitment to tackling climate change in Suffolk.
"We hope that by giving our younger residents the opportunity to experience a real-life climate debate, it will encourage them to take local action and plant the seed for future green skills careers.”
Cllr Tim Weller, cabinet member for environment, culture and wellbeing at Mid Suffolk District Council, said:
"Last year’s event was such a great day and I am delighted that we have the opportunity to host it once again.
“This is such a fantastic opportunity for younger residents to engage in topics such as climate change and give them the tools and confidence to explore careers in this field in the future.
"We hope that everyone who attends, younger residents and teachers alike, can walk away from the event inspired and wanting to take local action at school and in their communities.”
Hear from students that took part in 2024 on Mid Suffolk's Facebook page.
Watch a reel on Babergh's Facebook page of the 2024 summit, including commentary from students who took part.
