The Sligo Youth Assembly on Climate Action is being piloted through the Climate Education Clubs initiative of Power to Change. It aims to promote a conversation about Climate Change and Climate Action among young people. Furthermore, it aims to provide young people with a platform to voice their concerns about Climate Action at local level.
An invitation to participate in the pilot was extended to all post-primary schools in county Sligo in May 2023. Interested schools attended an information day hosted at ATU Sligo on 8th September 2023. Students explored the themes of sustainability, circular economy, and local climate action through talks and round-table discussion. There were some exciting proposals on how students can pro-actively engage in climate action suggested at the information day.
The Strategic Policy Committee 4 Climate Change extended an invitation to the Sligo Youth Assembly to join the committee meeting on 14th November 2023. The draft Local Authority Climate Action Plan 2024-2029 was released for consultation on 9th November 2023. Therefore, the meeting provided students the opportunity to discuss their views, raise concerns, and contribute to the consultation on the draft plan. Key areas of concern raised by students related to habitat protection, sustainable building, sustainable transport, renewable energy, and sustainable development of rural Ireland.
It is planned to increase the number of schools involved in the Sligo Youth Assembly over the coming year and to continue this initiative in partnership with Sligo Co. Co. to ensure that the youth voice is part of the local climate action conversations.
Please contact Yvonne Lang at yvonne.lang@atu.ie for further details of this initiative.
