InterClimate Network (ICN) will receive a share of almost £1.2 million funding from the ScottishPower Foundation as a partner in a joint project led by Size of Wales, a charity working with people in Wales and beyond to help protect four million hectares of tropical forests.

Among this year’s beneficiaries is the ‘Connecting the UK – MockCOP’ project led by Size of Wales. ICN is collaborating to jointly deliver part of the project with Size of Wales, as well as the Welsh Centre for International Affairs (WCIA), a charity which inspires people to learn and act on global issues so everyone in Wales can contribute to creating a fairer and more peaceful world. The jointly delivered project will enable schools across the UK to participate in a series of engaging UN-style debates to raise awareness among young people about climate change and related issues such as deforestation, and to promote their voices and local action in the run-up to the Glasgow COP26 climate conference in November 2021.

Michila Critchley, Programme Manager at InterClimate Network, said: “With the UK as hosts of COP26 this year, we have a unique opportunity to involve secondary students across the four nations in this critical global debate about the climate crisis and so we’re delighted to be working with Size of Wales and the Welsh Centre for International Affairs to deliver this important project.”

Kevin Rahman-Daultrey, Policy and Education Manager at Size of Wales, said: “Size of Wales and WCIA have been delivering the Welsh MockCOP programme for a number of years and it is with great excitement that we are able to join forces with InterClimate Network and their programme thanks to the funding from ScottishPower Foundation. We are excited to enable young people to have their voices heard on climate especially this year with COP26 around the corner.”

Susie Ventris-Field, CEO at the Welsh Centre for International Affairs, said: “Pupils who take part in MockCOPs not only learn more about climate change, but better understand how to negotiate, compromise and find solutions together, and develop a better understanding of the impacts of climate change around the world. We’re excited that this project will bring these opportunities to more young people across the UK.”