Time is already running out to tackle the climate and ecological emergency. Unlike world leaders, young people are refusing to let it drop off their agenda.

Schools from around the UK will be coming together for the Youth Climate Summit during what would have been the week of COP26 to take action to create a more just, sustainable world and make commitments and pledges for the planet.

What is the Youth Climate Summit?

The Youth Climate Summit is an engaging, free and accessible week of climate action and discovery for schools, with events hosted online throughout the week. The Youth Mock COP is running at the same time, and the Youth Climate Summit will complement and feed into this.  

The Youth Climate Summit is coordinated by environmental charity Global Action Plan and aims to empower students and teachers to become more ambitious with their school commitments in tackling the climate emergency.

We’d love to get every school in the UK talking about the climate and ecological emergency and what action they are taking at a time when World Leaders should have been doing the same.

In bringing together young people from across the UK who are committed to taking action, the Youth Climate Summit will demonstrate how critical the climate emergency is to young people, and send a clear message about the expectations they have of the world leaders that represent them.

Who can take part in the Youth Climate Summit?

Teachers and young people - whether in schools, groups or independently - are welcome to join the Youth Climate Summit. The Youth Climate Summit will support and connect young people across the UK to come together to take action on issues they care about.

How will the Youth Climate Summit work?

The Youth Climate Summit will run over five days, from 9-13th November 2020, with participants joining online.

Created in collaboration with teachers and young people, each day will focus on a different theme, with morning, afternoon and after school sessions (film screenings and teacher CPD), as well as fringe activities provided by schools, youth-led organisations, community groups, NGOs, experts and thought leaders.

Each day will have its own set of pledges for schools to make.

Day themes of the Youth Climate Summit:

• Monday 9th November: Nature, Oceans & Water
• Tuesday 10th November: Travel, Pollution & Waste 
• Wednesday 11th November: Food, Farming & Forests 
• Thursday 12th November: Fashion & Consumption 
• Friday 13th November: A Sustainable Future followed by the Closing Summit

The following Golden Threads will run throughout all events at the summit:

• Climate, Social & Racial Justice
• Education, Skills & Careers
• Health & Wellbeing

A Closing Summit will take place on the final day of the week (2-4pm). It will be a chance to reflect on the five themed days, and review the pledges and commitments made. We’ll then turn these into calls for action that we can send to the COP26 team and world leaders, who didn’t show up for the planet when all of our young people did.

How can schools collaborate with the Youth Climate Summit?

The Youth Climate Summit is being designed with schools at its heart - so we’re looking for schools to collaborate with us. If you would like to get involved in any of the following ways, please submit your details and we’ll be back in touch soon.

• Host a fringe event at the Youth Climate Summit: We’re looking for fringe event submissions from schools, youth-led organisations, community groups, NGOs, academics and experts/thought leaders. Deadline for submissions is Tuesday 22nd September 2020.
• Sign up to receive updates including the programme schedule and registration. 

Submissions will be reviewed and selected by a committee of teachers and students.

We look forward to seeing you there - make sure you follow @TransformSDG for updates!

For any press enquiries, please contact [email protected]