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Schools climate conference ‘the start of a journey’ for young people

2022 programme includes expert speakers, celebrity vegan chefs and practical sessions to inspire educators, parents and students in South Yorkshire.

Person holding there is no planet b poster photo unsplash
Li-An Lim (Unsplash)

The second South Yorkshire schools climate conference aims to empower students and staff with “the knowledge and skills they need to accelerate change” in response to the climate crisis, its organisers have said.

Schools’ Climate Education South Yorkshire (SCESY) has announced the programme for the three-day event, which includes live and pre-recorded virtual sessions aimed at teachers and students of all ages, and runs from 1 to 3 March.

The 2022 conference, which is free, will feature world-renowned vegan chef duo Bosh, food ‘upcycling’ organisation Food Works and a science workshop from Amazelab.

Project Earth Rock will offer climate education to 7-11 year olds through the medium of song, alongside speeches from Sheffield MP Louise Haigh and Catherine Nuttgens, Community Forestry Manager at Sheffield City Council. All sessions can be watched back on demand.

SCESY co-ordinator Richard Souter said: “SCESY was set up in response to the climate crisis and the inadequate progress being made in combating it.

"We hope these conferences are the start of a journey for [staff and young people] in doing what they can within their schools and communities to both promote and advocate for change."

BOSH vegan chefs

Vegan chef duo Bosh return for the second South Yorkshire Schools Climate Conference in 2022.

SCESY ran its first conference in July 2021, involving around 3,000 students and staff from 60 schools in the region. The programme featured talks, workshops and training sessions, and is archived online as a resource for students, parents and educators.

Rafia Hussain, a secondary school teacher in Sheffield who was involved in the first conference, said it “got the environment ball rolling in my school.”

“We were able to self-reflect as a school and think about what we can do both individually and collectively. It certainly raised awareness.

“Some teachers went on to do workshops in their own time and we have set up a Climate Champions Committee to make the school more environmentally friendly. It is so important to embed climate issues into the curriculum to help everyone create a more sustainable world.”

by Sam Walby (he/him)
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