The climate summit was inspired by Braes High School’s work with One Carbon World which helped the school become accredited as carbon neutral for 2022-2023.This work included the Art and Design department’s sculptures around the school grounds including the recent Willow sculpture.
Dr Wilson, an RMPS teacher and key facilitator of summit at Braes High School, explained:
“The eco-committee was interested in a way to celebrate these achievements and build on the experience they had acquired throughout that process. The pupils were also looking for a way of engaging with other schools and stakeholders (like policy makers) so that they could have a better sense of agency around some of the issues they were passionate about.”
Preparations
Preparations for the summit were coordinated by Braes eco-committee and the Changemakers group at Falkirk High, with both groups wanting to use the summit as an opportunity to form the ‘Falkirk Agreement’, a commitment to addressing the climate emergency. They worked together throughout the year to form the structure of the summit, plan inclusive workshops, compose letters to the speakers and design the messaging of the summit. Teachers helping facilitate the event reached out to Scotdec who provided useful training on a global citizenship approach to the climate emergency and participatory methodologies to use in the summit’s pupil-led workshops.
"The climate summit has been a fantastic catalyst for engaging the wider school community around sustainability and climate action."
The Event
The event took place over the school day bringing together a number of eco-groups from across the council with pupil voice evident throughout. The pupils were given the opportunity to take part in participatory workshops exploring various aspects of climate emergency. This included reflecting on fast fashion and discussing campaigning techniques highlighting opportunities to engage politically on a local level with MSPs.
Slyvia Corsie, Art and Design teacher at Braes High School, took part in an outdoor learning workshop led by June McEwan, a local artist. She said,
"Willow artist June McEwan helped pupils discuss, plan, and create a living sculpture in the school garden, developing an ethos and focus on Outdoor Learning."
The summit ended with the signing and handing over of the Falkirk Agreement to Councillor Meiklejohn representing a powerful moment for pupils after months of planning.
A Positive Future
Since the summit Dr Wilson explain that, “The climate summit has been a fantastic catalyst for engaging the wider school community around sustainability and climate action.”
This engagement includes pupils participating in the International Sustainability Diploma, exploring creative ways to encourage members of the school community to ensure that the targets they chose for the agreement are being discussed by politicians at each level of government.
Sylivia Corsie discussed how the Eco Team and Art and Design department in school are discussing ways for young people to get involved in a larger scale environmental project. One idea is “a Helix type hedge which could potentially begin in Falkirk, around the Helix area and gradually be planted near schools around their own local community.”
"The summit ended with the signing and handing over of the Falkirk Agreement to Councillor Meiklejohn representing a powerful moment for pupils after months of planning"
The pupil response to this idea has been positive. Alice Ohlstenius (age 14) from Braes High School’s eco group expressed:
“If there was an opportunity to take part or help younger years explore Eco Art by planting trees, I would definitely seize the opportunity especially since this could become so much bigger and influence other communities and to allow young people like me have a voice.”
