Sustainability shines at inspirational Youth Climate Summit

Sustainability shines at inspirational Youth Climate Summit

School children at the 2025 Youth Climate Summit

A day of education, innovation, and collaboration was held at the Youth Climate Summit last week.

Organised by Wigan Council’s Climate Response Team, the event returned to The Edge for the fourth time on Wednesday, 8 October to highlight the importance of the environment and sustainability.

Attended by pupils from primary school through to high school and college, the summit heard special guest speeches, held interactive workshops, served plant-based food, and shared top tips about how we can all make a difference in the fight against climate change.

One of the speakers at the summit, Councillor Samantha Brown, lead member for climate response and sustainability, said: “Climate change is one of the most important issues of our time and it was great to see so many pupils showing interest and enthusiasm at the Youth Climate Summit.

“It is these young people who are going to make a big difference in the future so it’s vital that we pass on this important message of sustainability.

“It was inspiring to see so many people who are passionate about our planet and hear how we can all do our bit to fight back against climate change.”

One of the highlights of the summit was keynote speaker Chris Hines MBE, who spoke about his roles in A Grain of Sand, The Eden Project, and the Surfers Against Sewage campaign which successfully fought for improved water quality and reduced sewage pollution.

Making the trip from Cornwall for the summit, Chris talked about the ways in which young people can get involved in helping the environment, and like Councillor Brown, declared that the “youth will be the people who help deliver the world we want to live in”.

Elsewhere at the summit, there was an eco-market that promoted healthy lifestyles, sustainable work sites, immersive experiences, and practical activities to allow young people to be creative and eco-conscious all at the same time.

With a sustainable message at the heart of the summit, the materials for pupils to use, such as display boards, flip charts, and craft supplies, were all recycled and repurposed to reinforce the idea that we should upcycle and recycle before throwing something away.

This message resonated with many of the pupils and school leaders at the summit, with Eve Kemp from Atherton St George’s explaining how she is “very proud” that her school has introduced sustainable steps into everyday classroom routines, such as cutting down electricity usage and increasing recycling.

A selection of sustainable businesses were also present at the event to highlight job opportunities and drive home the green theme, including sponsors Ward Williams, Calisen, Murphy Group Ltd, YPO, and FCC Environment.

Tom Moore, partner at Ward Williams, explained how the construction consultants aim to be sustainable in every approach, from working on sustainable designs to using ethically sourced products, and offering environmentally friendly advice to clients.

Ellen Hardaker, Wigan Council’s climate education officer and organiser of the Youth Climate Summit, said: “Young people see the all the news about climate change, but this event reassures them that they can do something about it.

“There are so many practical ways where people can be more sustainable, and the summit allows young people to think about the skills they need to make a difference and the career opportunities that this can bring.

“It’s amazing to see that schools are embedding sustainable methods into their everyday routines, and it gives me hope that there are many businesses taking the fight to climate change and offering green job opportunities to young people.”