Issued 10.11.09 For immediate use

School pupils to meet local MPs at climate summits ahead of Copenhagen

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 three ‘mini-summits’ will be held at Leeds Civic Hall on November 20th with John Battle MP, then at Ripon Cathedral on November 27th with David Curry MP, and finally at Bradford Academy on December 4th with Terry Rooney MP.

More than 100 children from 25 church schools will present 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 on November 20th (10.30am -2.20pm) delegates from schools in the Leeds area will hold workshops and debates and then meet with John Battle, MP for Leeds West, Gemma Bone who will travel to Copenhagen with the UK Youth Climate Coalition delegation, Chris Johnston of Stop Climate Chaos Leeds and Dr Simon Lewis of the Earth & Biosphere Institute at the University of 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.

ENDS

Further information from Sarah Fishwick, Diocesan Global Education Advisor : 0113 380 5661/ 0113 279 9153 or via The Diocesan Education office: 01423 817553 or email: Sarah@leedsdec.org.uk

Issued by John Carter (Rev)
Press and Communications Officer, Diocese of Ripon and Leeds

jhgcarter@aol.com
01423 530369 or mobile 07798 652707