Climate Futures: Youth Perspectives (virtual conference)

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Climate Futures: Youth Perspectives (virtual conference)

Interactive, four-part virtual conference exploring how young people imagine the future of the planet, with guest speakers.

By Cumberland Lodge

Date and time

Tue, 9 Mar 2021 08:30 - Thu, 18 Mar 2021 11:00 PST

Location

Online

About this event

The climate emergency has inspired youth-led activism across the world and young people have been at the forefront of campaigns and political protest on climate justice.

In April 2019, Extinction Rebellion began to galvanise support in the UK, before turning into a global movement, denouncing inaction and inertia on the part of governments and the powerful. In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has further highlighted the limitations of inaction in the face of global threats.

This four-part virtual conference series explores how young people think about environmentalism, stewardship of the natural world, grassroots activism, and the limitations or possibilities of representative democracy and international collaboration with regard to the future of our planet.

We discuss the challenges and opportunities of transnational political action, and examine how young people imagine a future in which humanity’s impact on the planet will be less destructive.

Who is it for and why should I come?

Young people (aged 17+) from a broad spectrum of schools, universities, organisations and backgrounds will be invited to collaborate with policymakers and civil servants, charity representatives, activists, community practitioners and academics.

Our aim is to facilitate powerful intergenerational dialogue with leaders, change-makers and influencers, involving input from a range of different sectors.

Convened on Zoom to maximise participation, this virtual conference series provides a platform for young people to express their views, visions and expectations ahead of the 2021 Pre-COP26 in Milan, Italy and the 2021 UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow (COP26).

This event is suitable for people aged 16 and above.

Programme

This virtual conference takes places over four sessions in March 2021, using Zoom as a platform for bringing people together face-to-face, from across the UK and around the world.

Our speakers will help to frame and kickstart our conversations, but all participants will be encouraged to play an active part in the open discussions and small-group breakout sessions that follow.

SESSION 1: Education for Sustainability - Tuesday 9 March 2021, 4.30-6.00pm

SESSION 2: Green Business and Careers - Thursday 11 March 2021, 4.30-6.00pm

SESSION 3: Adaptation and Eco-anxiety - Tuesday 16 March 2021, 4.30-6.00pm

SESSION 4: Democracy and Activism - Thursday 18 March 2021, 4.30-6.00pm

Our aims

William Finnegan has been commissioned as a freelance Research Associate to support this work. He will prepare a briefing document before our virtual conference series to summarise existing research and ideas and identify scope for further enquiry.

William will also be producing our Cumberland Lodge Report on Climate Futures: Youth Perspectives, presenting key ideas from the conference discussions and a series of practical recommendations for policymakers, influencers and practitioners.

As with all the discussions we host, our aim is to promote open dialogue and the exchange of views in a welcoming and inclusive environment. To support this, please note that the four sessions will be held under the Chatham House Rule, which means you should avoid directly attributing ideas or information gained to anyone in particular, when sharing them outside of the conference, including in posts on social media.

Registration

Please register now to secure your place, or contact our Programme Officer, Emily Gow, at egow@cumberlandlodge.ac.uk with any enquiries.

We will send you reminders and joining details ahead of each session.

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