Call for interest in our Youth Advisory Board
During COP29, conversations were going on in Azerbaijan around the global impact of climate change. At the Highland Council Chambers it was our young people advocating for change, and we are keeping this momentum up with our Youth Climate Network.
The Highlands and Islands Climate Hub were thrilled to support a Mock COP during COP29 hosted by Highland One World Global Learning Centre and the Open University. Young people from secondary schools across Highland took on personas of global powers, corporations and environmental pressure groups for a day to campaign for their interests in the climate transition to reach resolutions. Their knowledge of the impacts of climate change and ability to channel a character was impressive, but it was their awareness of how to empathise with communities facing a range of issues that is so important to recognise. So how do we channel their drive for action into the just transition across Highland, Orkney and Shetland? A Youth Climate Network.
Image Credit: Ewen Weatherspoon.
Our vision is for young people throughout Highland, Orkney and Shetland to feel empowered to tackle the climate crisis by building an inclusive network that opens opportunities for action, giving young people the skillset and confidence to enter careers in sustainability.
The Youth Climate Network is a space for young people aged 14-26 based in the Highlands, Orkney and Shetland to engage in climate action, develop skills and experience for later in life using third party organisations and community groups in their area. It will open the door to a variety of volunteer and training opportunities along with a link to the Highlands and Islands Climate Hub and its members. The network aims to show a clear connection between climate action and tackling social injustices, embedding this way of thinking into the everyday lives of young people.
The most important principle of the Youth Climate Network is that it’s youth led; for young people by young people. The first steps of the Youth Climate Network will be directed by a Youth Advisory Board made up of seven young people aged 16 – 26. It's important that the network is always shaped by the views of its users and will always be open to new thoughts and ideas.
Applications are open to join our Youth Advisory Board, we want young people to share their motivations for joining the Board and which direction they want the Network to take. To steer the initial decisions of the board and understand the views of young people all across Highland, Orkney and Shetland we are inviting young people to take our climate survey, sharing their climate concerns, priorities, and opportunities to act.
By building a Youth Climate Network, we can amplify the collective voice of young people in the just transition and upskill the younger generation with a green skillset, directing them into sustainable careers.
Our next steps are to bring the Youth Advisory Board together to connect the young people from Highland, Orkney and Shetland to establish their priorities to move forward.
