The time to act on the climate emergency is right here and now. The UK will host the United Nations COP26 in Glasgow in 2021 and this brings a unique opportunity for young people to influence our response to the climate crisis.

Gloucestershire Schools Climate Conference will be held online during the morning and afternoon of 4 November 2021, timed to coincide with COP26 in Glasgow.

Conference outline

Global negotiations The first part of the conference will be run as if students are taking part in global negotiations at COP26. School teams will be assigned a country and asked to prepare their delegation’s (short) opening speech. They will represent their country’s views and address key questions (see COP26 Overview), to then decide a climate resolution that will be taken to COP26.

Local action This part of the conference brings the issues close to home so that young people can have a say about climate action in their area. In a ‘Climate Question Time’, local decision-makers will make short contributions and young people will be invited to put forward their questions and views to the panel. The session will end with pledges for actions, including ways to make the most difference in school.