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Engaging schools on climate change through council democratic process
On 2 October 2024, South Cambridgeshire District Council hosted its Climate and Environment Advisory Committee meeting at Comberton Village College. Students representing three local secondary schools enjoyed a morning of officer-led workshops around the themes of circular economy, air quality, sustainable food, water resources, and biodiversity.
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Synopsis
The workshops guided the students through the local context of their topic areas and towards drafting a public question, which they then posed to the Committee during the afternoon’s public meeting. This engagement day brought council democracy directly to young people, giving them the opportunity to voice their questions and indicate their priorities to elected members, whilst learning about climate change and the environment.
The challenge
The findings of South Cambridgeshire’s October 2023 Youth Task and Finish Report indicated that young people are no more or less knowledgeable about local government structures than adults; they understand how Council activities (such as planning) can affect them, and most are aware of the key services provided by the local authority. However, they tend not to engage with councils and thus are chronically underrepresented in council decision-making. The majority are unable or disinclined to vote in local elections; their preferred methods of communication are often not available, and while they may know who their MPs are, young people are unlikely to be aware of their local Councillors. These barriers will not be overcome unless a council is willing to reassess its accommodations and make adequate provisions for this age group.
The question of youth involvement in council decision-making is particularly pertinent in South Cambridgeshire as a major growth area. With new developments attracting young families and the number of young people in the district set to rise, the Council is working to ensure youth voice is heard in the development of the Council’s policies for the future of the district.
The climate and ecological emergencies are key issues for this age group. A YouGov poll in 2023 found that while nearly one in three (31 per cent) 16 to 24 year olds described themselves as being ‘very worried’ about climate change, only nine per cent of people in this age group felt like they have a great deal of influence making decisions about climate change. The Council were keen to identify ways to strengthen this sense of agency and to explore how engagement could be built around existing democratic processes. Consequently, the District Council committed to holding a meeting of its Climate and Environment Advisory Committee in a school.
The solution
Officers from the Climate and Environment and Democratic Services teams collaborated with local school leaders to arrange a morning of workshops before the committee. The event brought together officers, local councillors and students from three local village colleges. Pippa Heylings, MP for South Cambridgeshire, was also on hand to listen to the students and answer their questions.
In groups, students discussed the challenges and opportunities in the area across five themes: Circular Economy, Air Quality, Sustainable Food, Water Resources, and Biodiversity. Officers explained the council’s actions on these issues to date. The students then narrowed down further, key actions they would like the council to take, with advice from officers as to what would be achievable within the organisation’s remit. Finally, these requests were posed by the students themselves as public questions to the committee:
- Would the Committee support greater action and awareness raising in schools regarding biodiversity and nature? Students offered an example of school ‘immersion days’ as a possible method of delivery.
- Would the Council engage in a water awareness campaign, highlighting both the urgency of the water crisis and actions that can be taken to prevent it? Students suggested that a campaign utilise simple messaging to highlight the issue and suggest specific targets to help residents who want to take individual actions.
- Students also enquired if the Council could support the installation of water butts at reduced cost in both community and residential buildings.
- Could the Council help schools reduce food waste and help students engage in the food cycle? Suggestions included promoting the use of alternative packaging to reduce plastic waste, sharing information on local farmer markets and sustainable food sources, and providing education on community food growth through allotments/community gardens and kitchen workshops in schools.
- Could the Local Plan make provisions for improved cycle storage to promote cycling in Cambridgeshire? It was recommended that sheltered storage with anti-theft measures and 24-hour access would be desirable.
- Are there intentions to explore even more ambitious Biodiversity Net Gain delivery targets on developments, seeking 25 per cent or more?
- Can the Council support events in schools to stimulate circular economy practices, such as clothes swaps?
- How does the Council educate young people on the actions being taken by the Council to tackle climate change?
The impact (including cost savings and income generated if applicable)
By bringing council democracy into a school environment, officers and members were able to meet young people where they are. This model allowed students to engage on their terms; they could voice their questions and indicate their priorities directly to their elected representatives.
The young people left the day with a renewed sense of agency and felt their views had been heard. One Year 11 student remarked,
I’ve really enjoyed today. I’ve found that it was a great chance to share my views and ideas with others, and also be inspired by some of the actions the council is taking and persuade them to…implement some of our ideas. I felt like we had a voice – and hopefully, the Council and our MP will come away from today with…encouragement to do more for the climate crisis.”
Another student fed back,
I think this was a really good reminder to me of how important it is to just get involved with things…and get your voice heard if you’re passionate about something.”
How is the new approach being sustained?
With their requests now on public record, the Council commits to exploring the feasibility of the young people’s ideas and implementing them where possible.
South Cambridgeshire District Council has also partnered with Climate Education from environment charity PECT to offer 10 schools in the district a 12-month programme of support and tailored resources to help them achieve their climate goals. This network will build on the partnerships formed at the engagement day and keep young people more updated on the Council’s work to address the climate and ecological emergencies.
Lessons learned
- Councils should go to where young people are, rather than waiting for them to speak to their local authority through traditional routes. The Council should adapt and make accommodations for young people, so they can engage and participate, not the other way around.
- Schools can be difficult to engage as a district council, with no statutory responsibilities for education. Identifying teachers taking leadership in a particular area, through existing community networks, can help build partnerships.
- Young people can rise to the challenge of engaging with unfamiliar council processes and complex topics, provided age-appropriate accommodations are made.
- Young people may not be aware of how easily they can engage in local democracy, especially by utilising their digital literacy e.g. through following meeting livestreams or submitting public questions via email.
- Hosting a public meeting in a school had practical challenges which, while not insurmountable, were significant for the Democratic Services team.
- Engaging young people on climate change needs to be done in a sensitive, positive and action-inspiring manner. If done wrong, it can run the risk of exacerbating a sense of hopelessness and anxiety about the future. By engaging students in the democratic process, a council can demonstrate how action and change can be achieved.
Contact information
The climate and environment team: [email protected]