Church schools lobby MPs before Copenhagen

Diocesan wide pupils project comes up with new ideas for environment

Debating climate change in the Council Chamber at Leeds Civic Hall,

November 20th

With world leaders meeting in Copenhagen next month for the global summit on climate change, school children from the region are to meet local MP’s at three ‘mini-summits’ to put to them their own concerns and proposals on combating climate change.

The first of three ‘mini-summits’ has been held at Leeds Civic Hall with John Battle MP. Further summits will take place at Ripon Cathedral on November 27th with David Curry MP, and then at Bradford Academy on December 4th with Terry Rooney MP.

More than 100 children from 25 church schools are presenting the MPs with their proposals, worked out over the past term at joint school meetings and in school lessons such as geography, science, RE, and citizenship. A team from the Dioceses of Bradford and Ripon and Leeds, with the charity, Action Aid, have visited the schools and provided materials and lesson plans to support teachers. Following the climate mini-summits, the three MPs will then will pass on proposals to Ed Miliband, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change.

Sarah Fishwick, the Diocesan Global Education Advisor says that it is vital schools and children should be involved in the debate: “Whatever happens at Copenhagen, the decision will radically affect those who are now in school for the rest of their lives. As a Diocesan Education Team, we believe that children and young people need to know about an issue that will have such an effect on their future, and adults need to hear their voices in the debate. Church schools have a responsibility to challenge evasion, apathy and despair, and enable students to make a positive contribution. It’s their future at stake!”

At the first mini summit, in Leeds Civic Hall delegates from schools in the Leeds area held workshops and debates in the Council Chamber and then met with John Battle, MP for Leeds West (pictured left of centre), Gemma Bone who will travel to Copenhagen with the UK Youth Climate Coalition delegation (pictured centre in pink top), Dr Simon Lewis of the Earth & Biosphere Institute at the University of Leeds (pictured addressing the pupils)and Chris Johnston of Stop Climate Chaos Leeds.

In Ripon Cathedral on November 27th, delegates from North Yorkshire schools will hold climate sessions and then meet with David Curry MP, Gemma Bone, and Sarah Rowe of Christian Aid, who has recently returned from drought ravaged areas of Kenya.

Children from schools in the Bradford area will hold their mini-summit at Bradford Academy on December 4th and will meet with Terry Rooney MP Dr Andy Challinor from the Centre for Climate Change Economics & Policy, School for Earth and the Environment, University of Leeds.