Young people to help shape youth climate programme at COP26

Young people are to help shape a youth climate programme at the COP26 climate conference.

Young Scot, Keep Scotland Beautiful and YouthLink Scotland will organise a youth climate programme to run across the country backed by £450,000 of Scottish Government funding.

The programme will be co-designed by young people, with local champions recruited from every local authority area to help connect with communities to tackle climate change.

The youth programme will run up to and beyond the COP26 UN climate conference, which takes place in Glasgow in November, and will include a range of activities to support young people as they engage in the fight against climate change, along with the chance to receive accredited training.

In addition to the conference programme, Young Scot, Keep Scotland Beautiful and YouthLink Scotland will deliver a COP26 Scottish youth summit ahead of COP26, which will include a youth climate declaration.

Minister for Environment, Biodiversity and Land Reform Mairi McAllan said: “Young people in Scotland are driving the cause of climate action.

“This programme will give them a platform to make sure their voices are not just heard, but acted upon. 

“Scotland has world leading targets to be net zero by 2045 and we are already more than half way there.

“With COP26 in Glasgow this year, all of us have a unique opportunity to advance the society and economy-wide transformation demanded by the twin crises of climate change and biodiversity loss.

“We’re taking action and putting people at the heart of all we do.

“Young people have been demanding change for a better future and this programme will empower them to go even further.

“I look forward to hearing their ideas and engaging with them as we work together to end our contribution to climate change.”

Young people with an interest in climate change can apply to be part of the programme by visiting the Young Scot website.