Young People Call on 2020 Climate Group to Be Brave and Take Bold Action

Young people have urged the 2020 Climate Group to take more action and to continue the lead the way in delivering a low carbon Scotland.

Voicing their frustrations that as a generation they have been taught about climate change for their whole lives yet see little progress being made, the young people said: “We are calling on the 2020 Climate Group and people in positions of power and influence to listen seriously to our voices on climate change and the low carbon economy, and consider our vision of Scotland in 2020.”

Be brave, look for long-term solutions not quick fixes and take responsibility for our actions are among the recommendations made by young people who explored this issue in a dedicated consultation project.

In response, the 2020 Climate Group has today announced that it will establish a bespoke programme designed to ensure the voices and views of young people aged 16+ are heard as part of its work.

The move comes after the 2020 Group commissioned youth information and citizenship charity Young Scot (who were supported by BT Scotland) to explore with young people aged 16 – 26 across Scotland how they might become involved in shaping our low carbon future and what their vision was for the 2020 Group itself.

The work was delivered in three parts:

1. Desk-based research, drawing together findings from research re young people’s views on reducing carbon and behaviour change;
2. An audit of what opportunities there currently are at local and national level for young people to get involved in low carbon activity. As well as a report, this was developed into a proto-type interactive map; and
3. A “charter” drawn together by a mixed, representative group of young people supported by the Roars not Whispers Project, where young people identified the action they wanted the 2020 Group to take.

All of the work was presented to the main 2020 Group, which has now issued its formal response. The Group has committed to:

• create a “2050 Climate Group” made up of representative young people, to “shadow” the main 2020 Group and explore key issues with them, but through a longer timeline;
• hold a Youth Climate Summit, pulling together young people from across Scotland, to articulate their vision for a low carbon Scotland and how we can get there.

The work will be led by Young Scot, in partnership with the main 2020 Group. Currently, funding options are being explored around updating and then publishing the “map” as an interactive online resource; the terms of reference for the 2050 Group and possible partners for the summit. For more information, please contact: [email protected]

See the full format response from the 2020 Climate Group Chair Ian Marchant, and links to the final work, below.

Please note, that the desk-based research and mapping activity was carried out in summer/autumn 2012, so was correct at the time of publication. We appreciate that information moves rapidly, so please do let us know if you have any research or resources to add.