As the chair of South Lanarkshire Council’s (SLC) Youth Forum on Climate Change and Sustainability, I’m proud to reflect on an inspiring event that empowered educators and gave a voice to young people advocating for a sustainable future. In November, we hosted a groundbreaking Learning for Sustainability Conference for teachers at SLC HQ in Hamilton, designed to help teachers embed climate change and sustainability education into their everyday lessons. This event was born from a request made by the Youth Forum, who asked for a platform where educators could gain the knowledge and resources needed to teach about climate change and sustainability.
Inspiring sustainable practices
Our vision was clear from the outset: we wanted to create an event that would equip teachers with practical tools to bring Learning for Sustainability (LfS) to life in classrooms across South Lanarkshire, and beyond. The idea wasn’t just to deliver knowledge but to inspire teachers to incorporate sustainable practices into their teaching, enabling students to engage with the pressing global issues we face today. With this vision in mind, the Youth Forum worked closely with national partners such as WOSDEC, Keep Scotland Beautiful, RSPB and Learning Through Landscapes and more to make this event a reality. Each partner shared our commitment to fostering climate justice, global citizenship, and outdoor learning education.
"For many of us, this event was a chance to demonstrate how our voices can spark meaningful change and inspire others to take action on climate issues."
Youth lead
The Youth Forum's involvement went beyond simply organising the conference, we were also deeply engaged in the delivery. We were honoured to deliver keynote speeches, lead a “Teach the Teacher” session, and present workshops that shared our journey within the forum since its launch in August 2021. For many of us, this event was a chance to demonstrate how our voices can spark meaningful change and inspire others to take action on climate issues. We were not just participants in this conference, we were leaders in shaping the conversation around climate justice and sustainability.
Power of partnership
The event welcomed 180 attendees, including 150 practitioners from Early Years, Primary, and Secondary education. We opened the conference to the wider West Partnership, which brought together educators from eight local authorities, creating a broader network of change-makers. The day featured a range of key speakers, including representatives from Education Scotland, the Youth Forum Chair and Vice-Chair, and Learning Through Landscapes. One of the most exciting parts of the event was the market stalls, where attendees rotated through brief 8-minute sessions with each partner. These quick-fire introductions helped schools understand who the partners were, what they offered, and how they could support the implementation of sustainability initiatives in schools.
The workshops were a highlight to attendees, offering schools innovative ways to integrate global citizenship, sustainable development education, and outdoor learning into the curriculum. These sessions were designed to spark creativity, promote hands-on learning, and provide practical examples of how climate education can be embedded in everyday teaching. The interactive nature of the workshops emphasised the importance of not just learning about sustainability but also acting upon it. The discussions led to deeper reflections on how we can all take responsibility for our planet and work toward achieving climate justice.
"The workshops were a highlight to attendees, offering schools innovative ways to integrate global citizenship, sustainable development education, and outdoor learning into the curriculum."
Positive feedback
The feedback from participants was overwhelmingly positive. Teachers shared how impactful it was to hear from Youth Forum members, noting how our passion and insights left a lasting impression. Many teachers also expressed appreciation for the workshops, which gave them a clearer understanding of how to approach LfS in their classrooms. Teachers valued the networking opportunities, the chance to connect with like-minded colleagues, and the opportunity to learn more about bringing global citizenship into schools.
The feedback was clear: 70% of attendees rated the conference 5 out of 5, with an additional 30% rating it 4 out of 5. Teachers suggested that future events like this be held to allow even more practitioners the chance to attend, learn, and grow in their understanding of sustainability and climate justice education.
"This event demonstrated how powerful youth-led initiatives can be, not only in raising awareness but also in driving tangible change in our schools and communities."
Driving tangible change
As a young person, chairing the Youth Forum and leading this conference has been an incredibly rewarding experience. It has been a unique opportunity to voice my thoughts on the importance of climate justice and share how the Youth Forum has helped me grow in confidence. This event demonstrated how powerful youth-led initiatives can be, not only in raising awareness but also in driving tangible change in our schools and communities.
This conference was not a one-off event; it was a pivotal moment in the ongoing movement toward embedding climate change education and sustainability into our education system. By giving teachers the tools, inspiration, and support they need, we are taking significant steps toward creating a future where sustainability, global citizenship and outdoor learning are at the heart of every curriculum. Together, we can ensure that future generations are equipped with the knowledge and agency to tackle the climate crisis and work toward a more just and sustainable world for all.
