Young Londoners are shaping environmental and sustainability projects within the Square Mile and beyond, thanks to a new Youth Natural Environment Board (YNEB) which met for the first time on Friday 8 November.
The City of London Corporation’s scheme brings together current pupils and alumni from its Family of Schools, providing a platform for young voices to influence the City Corporation’s environmental policies, and cultivate leadership and advocacy skills in sustainability.
The City of London Corporation sponsors high-performing schools in some of the capital’s most disadvantaged areas across several boroughs through the City of London Academies Trust. It is also the local education authority for one maintained primary school in the City of London, and the proprietor of four independent schools.
It protects over 11,000 acres of parks, forests, heaths, gardens, and historic open spaces across London and southeast England – including Epping Forest and Hampstead Heath – and is delivering an ambitious Climate Action Strategy to reach net zero in its own operations by 2027.
The first YNEB meeting took place at Hampstead Heath, where a range of topics were discussed, including raising climate change awareness, reducing waste, harvesting rainwater, and using greener sources of energy.
As part of this initiative, the City Corporation is working with the University of Surrey’s Institute for Sustainability to develop a youth-led curriculum, and the Royal Commonwealth Society and St Mary’s University (Twickenham) on a global campaign to clean up the world’s oceans, including a River Thames clean-up.
Chair of the City Corporation’s Natural Environment Board, Caroline Haines, said:
“The creation of a new Youth Board presents a unique opportunity to harness the energy, creativity, and passion of young people to help drive environmental action and sustainability within the city. After all, they are the next generation of problem solvers, and by giving them a voice through a formal channel, we can all work together towards a greener, more resilient future for the City of London. I am looking forward to working with so many inspired young people and cannot wait to hear their ideas.”
Simon Lightman of King Edward’s School, Witley, and lead teacher for the YNEB, added:
“This is a great initiative, and I am immensely proud of our students who came forward to make this idea become a reality. Young people are at the heart of tackling climate change. Giving them a voice and a platform to feel engaged with, and listened to, is crucial to inspire the next generation of environmental leaders.”
Jacob Sprake, King Edward’s School alumnus and the originator of the Youth Natural Environment Board concept, said:
The creation of the Youth Natural Environment Board is an amazing opportunity for young people, enabling collaboration on key issues and empowering them to create innovative solutions to address environmental and sustainable challenges within the City of London. Climate change will affect this generation on a greater scale than ever before, therefore it is important that the youth of today are equipped with the necessary skills and support to adapt, and succeed, in facing these ever-changing environmental challenges.”
