While world leaders argued about climate action in Glasgow this week, young people across Noosa Shire had already called for action now.
In an Australian first, the Noosa Youth Advocacy Group (NYAG) last month delivered a climate summit for youth by youth, held at Noosa Council Chambers. Buoyed by a detailed understanding of climate science which supports the need for action, students brought together their peers to discuss and formulate grassroots actions for individual and collective use.
The dedicated group of students have real concerns for their future. They were concerned that once again the COP26 discussion would be clouded by rhetoric with no action from our Federal government. They listened and brainstormed ideas with environmental leaders and committed to individual support for real climate action in our community. They were heartened to hear from a range of environmental groups making real change, such as Noosa District Landcare, Zero Positive, Yandina Food Waste Loop and Zero Emissions Noosa’s strategy for zero net community emissions by 2026, a goal they believe is necessary if we are to stay within a 1.5-degree Celsius increase.
“We are the generation that will see the harsh effects of climate change,” said Jolie May, a 16-year-old NYAG member and budding marine scientist. “We are already seeing harsher climatic conditions with more severe flooding, drought and bushfires, we must act now.”
The summit generated a large swathe of ideas, such as lowering the voting age to 16 years (non-compulsory) and has led to an exciting new curriculum initiative to be released in 2022 by the Noosa Environmental Education Hub (Noosa EEHub) to help support real climate action in our local schools. The Noosa EEHub already delivers a large range of successful biocultural learning opportunities which support our local environment while teaching essential curriculum.
Members of NYAG receive many rewarding opportunities, such as work experience, part-time employment and the chance to work on programs that will help shape their future. For more information about NYAG and the summit and to review NYAG’s summit report visit noosaeehub.com.au
