Bristol youth have their say about Climate Change – watch them in action

Particle Productions

Particle Productions

Particle Productions

26 May 2022

Young people from 9 schools in and around Bristol had their say about what should happen on climate change in Mock COP26 negotiations. In a one-day role-play event hosted by the University of Bristol Cabot Institute for the Environment, teams of 16-18 year-olds took on the roles of negotiators and international organisations to debate and vote on resolutions that mapped the real negotiations taking place in Glasgow at the time.

While world leaders were making agreements about how much to fund investment in climate action, whether they would ban coal, and how to accommodate the hundreds of millions of people likely to be displaced by climate disasters, the young people in Bristol made more ambitious choices.

Councillor Asher Craig, Deputy Mayor with responsibility for Children's Services, Education and Equalities attended the event and said to the young people: “Today you have shown your ability to debate the same issues as global leaders, and can I just say I think you’ve done a brilliant job”.

Cllr Kye Dudd, cabinet member for Climate, Ecology, Waste and Energy, said: “it’s encouraging to see Bristol schools putting climate change on their agenda, and inspiring hearing so many young people in Bristol speaking passionately about it. [This film demonstrates that] Mock COP was a great opportunity for students to develop their debating and public speaking skills. It was also a positive example of Bristol organisations working together to bring a project to life, this kind of collaboration is needed to reach the city’s climate ambitions.”

Participant Jessica Webber said: “It really makes me interested in what I want to do in the future, and to learn about environmental politics”

Participant Humairaa Iqbal said: “I think the most important thing is staying positive because we do have time, and if we have a really enthusiastic youth, I think we can make a huge difference.”

See them in action in this 2-minute film funded by Bristol City Council and produced by Particle Productions.

Professor Guy Howard, Director of Cabot Institute for the Environment, said “Climate change and the impact it will have around the world is something that everyone on this planet will have to endure – if they are not enduring it already. Young people will experience more of the negative effects, and it is young people who are using their energy and fresh ideas to drive change. This event was an excellent example of how young people can play a vital part in curbing emissions and guarantee our future.”

You can also read about the event in this blog by Cabot Institute Master's by Research students who faciliated on the day: https://cabot-institute.blogspot.com/2022/05/bristol-mock-cop26.html

Further information

The Mock COP negotiations were funded by the Cabot Institute for the Environment and Bristol City Council, as part of their COP26 public engagement work.

The Mock COP26 was designed and delivered by Praxis Research.

For more Bristol Climate Action films visit Bristol One City - YouTube or search #BristolClimateAction on social media

For further information on Bristol Climate Action, visit Bristol Climate Hub.