Reading schoolchildren debate the climate at 'mock' COP conference
Pupils from six schools will meet at the council chamber
The Reading Schools’ Model Climate Conference event will see pupils from six local secondary schools seek to generate what has so far eluded world leaders: international scale-up of global ambition to limit dangerous global warming.
School children from six local schools will take on the role of negotiating teams during the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) in the Civic Offices’ Council Chambers. They are Bulmershe School; Highdown School; Kendrick School; Maiden Erlegh School in Reading; King’s Academy Prospect and Reading School.
They will form teams representing a diverse mix of 15 developed and developing countries attending COP26 - including Australia, Bangladesh, Brazil, India, Kenya, the Marshall Islands, Saudi Arabia, Uganda, UK and USA. Putting forward policy positions using carefully chosen arguments in a conference debate model that mirrors the real life UN negotiations, the students will agree on a set of resolutions on key themes.
The conference will also feature a ‘Climate Question Time’, where young people will be invited to put forward their questions and contributions to a panel made up of local decision makers, a local business and an environmental organisation. The session will end with pledges for actions, including ways to make the most difference in school.
The Mayor of Reading, Councillor David Stevens – will open the Conference, welcoming the students to the centre of local decision making. Councillor Tony Page, Reading Borough Council’s Lead Member for Strategic Environment, Planning and Transport and Reading Borough Council’s Head of Climate Strategy Peter Moore will join the Climate Question Time panel, along with speakers from the Youth Parliament, Thames Water and the Angling Trust.
Tony Page, Reading Borough Council’s Lead Councillor for Strategic Environment, Planning and Transport said
“This annual event is always truly inspiring where young people from across Reading show their passion for the environment and tackling climate change.”
“Climate change is of course one of the most significant challenges we face and the schools’ Climate Conference will help to inform, inspire, and empower young people to make a positive difference for their futures – and importantly influence and inspire their networks.”
“Young people are pressing for change to every aspect of our lives in response to the climate crisis. The schools’ Climate Conference provides an invaluable opportunity to listen to them and help them develop plans to make change happen.”
Tracey Rawling Church, co-chair of the Reading Climate Change Partnership said
“The Reading Schools’ Model Climate Conference provides a valuable opportunity for young people to understand the issues around climate change by participating in negotiations, bringing to life the complex relationships between the challenges faced by different nations at different stages of industrialisation and with different needs and priorities.”
“It has become a fixture in Reading’s academic calendar and we are delighted to support it – especially so this year when Reading Climate Action Network will be participating at COP26 in Glasgow, where the Model Climate Conference will be one of the activities we will showcase.”