Image credit: The Welcoming

On November 5, COP26 is focused on youth and public empowerment. Here are the stories and facts to get you inspired and up to speed – and great ways to take part online.

Schools set on becoming zero carbon

More than 700 UK schools have joined the Let’s Go Zero campaign – declaring their ambition to become zero carbon by 2030. These trailblazing schools are harnessing the passion of young people to drive change and spark climate action in communities across the country. Tackling energy waste, promoting green travel and creating lower-carbon school meals all lead to reduced emissions, with many other benefits too.

Throughout COP26, Let’s Go Zero is hosting events with local schools, politicians and policymakers, and campaign partners including IKEA UK.

Find out more about the campaign, and see how you can help schools near you to sign up – or hear from the students at St Vincent’s, a specialist school for children with sensory impairment, about why they’re taking action.

Community engagement in action: The Welcoming, Edinburgh

The Welcoming helps refugees, migrants and asylum seekers in Edinburgh to come together through climate-focused activities such as food growing and cooking, home energy savings and waste reduction. Through the Welcoming a Greener Future project, refugees find friends, save money, improve their health and wellbeing, and get support to settle down comfortably their new community.

The project has created volunteering opportunities for more than 50 people, both native Scots and migrants. Some volunteers have credited their experience with helping them find paid work.

Last night, The Welcoming won the 2021 Ashden Award for Green Communities.

How can public bodies involve everyone in climate action?

Councils and other public organisations are keen to engage communities in climate action. We’ve gathered advice from experts Repowering London, who empower people to fund, install and manage their own clean, local energy. Simple tips from Programme Manager Dave Fuller include ‘be truthful’, ‘share the positives’ and ‘be consistent’. Find out more.

Today’s events to join online

• Today and throughout COP26, the Let’s Go Zero forest of promises will be gathering pledges from climate leaders visiting Glasgow. Schools can take part virtually too – find out more.
• At 11.30am, join Students Organising for Sustainability and youth climate activists from around the world as they talk about the impacts of climate change they are experiencing, and the action and campaigning they are part of.
• At 3.30pm CBM UK will host ‘An inclusive planet: inclusion, mental health and climate change’.