Agenda item

With reference to article 6 of the minute of its previous meeting, the Committee had before it a report by the Chief Operating Officer which provided an update on the findings of the child-friendly version of COP26 which had been held on 3 March 2022. 

The report advised that all secondary schools had been invited to nominate a City Climate Change president. After pupils were nominated, they had been asked to complete a 300-word application explaining their thoughts on the climate emergency and what they would like to see in their city of Aberdeen to improve the local environment.  Following a robust application process Charles Turner, from Aberdeen Grammar School, had been successfully appointed to the role.  The report advised that he would chair the proposed new monthly Pupil Climate Change Group, and would be accompanied in his role by Best Abalaka, Harlaw Academy, and Aurora MacDonald, Aberdeen Grammar School, as Climate Change Vice Presidents.

The findings from the event were appended to the report.

The Committee welcomed Charles Turner to the meeting.  Mr Turner explained that he had felt that it was morally ethical to apply for the role, particularly as, in common with many people in Aberdeen, he had family who worked in the oil and gas sector.  He addressed the serious concerns young people had around climate change, noting that he felt that dependence on oil and gas was not sustainable.  He thanked the Council for the opportunity given to his generation to put their thoughts forward, noting the importance of events such as the mock COP26, and further thanked the Council for the investment of £150,000 to take forward the ideas of young people in relation to climate change initiatives.  He stated that the youth of Aberdeen had so much to say, but had not really had the chance to do so.  Mr Turner added that having a ‘seat at the table’ was so important, and he looked forward to chairing the monthly climate change meetings and making contact with Members to discuss matters further.

Members thanked Mr Turner for his passionate speech and asked him a number of questions in relation to his thoughts on climate change.

The report recommended:-

that Committee –

(a)      note the findings of the COP event held on 3 March 2022;

(b)      congratulate and thank the Pupil Climate Change President and Vice

Presidents for their commitment to helping the city work towards Net Zero;

(c)      instruct the Chief Officer - Education to support the establishment of a monthly Pupil Climate Change Group to be chaired by the Pupil Climate Change President and Vice Presidents;

(d)      instruct the Chief Officer - Education to support the Pupil Climate Change President to lead the Pupil Climate Change Group to draft an Action Plan based on the findings of the event on 3 March 2022 and communicate plans with all children and young people across the city;

(e)      instruct the Chief Officer - Education to support the Pupil Climate Change Group to allocate the £150,000 awarded to the Group at the Council Budget meeting on 7 March 2022 against their Action Plan;

(f)       instruct the Chief Officer - Education to support the Pupil Climate Change President to report the impact of the £150,000 awarded to the Group within one calendar year; and

(g)      agree to establish a yearly event for secondary young people to help shape city strategy around Net Zero and Climate Change.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)       to thank Mr Turner for his attendance and contribution at the meeting;

(ii)       to note that the report on the impact of the £150,000 awarded to the Group would be presented to the Education Operational Delivery Committee within one calendar year; and

(iii)      to approve the recommendations.

-      COUNCILLOR M. TAUQEER MALIK, Convener