Schools’ Climate Action Summit (Bayside)
About the Program
In December 2019, Bayside City Council voted unanimously to declare a Climate Emergency, recognising the need for urgent, meaningful action on human-induced climate change. Since then, Council has developed and adopted the Climate Emergency Action Plan 2020 – 2025 based on the feedback of nearly 3,000 community members. This Action Plan steps out our urgent response to the impacts of climate change.
As part of their response to the Climate Emergency, Bayside City Council developed an annual Schools Climate Action Summit and engaged the EcoCentre to co-design the event.
In 2020, 73 students and teachers from 11 primary and secondary schools participated in the online Bayside Schools Climate Action Summit using Microsoft Teams. In 2021, up to 10 year 5, 6, 7, and 8 from each Bayside school were invited to participate in a day of youth climate action workshops. Students could be part of the school’s environment group, school leadership group, or environment captains.
Highlights of the 2020 Summit included a welcome from Mayor, Cr Clarke Martin, and hearing the inspiring speech that Mia and Lili, Year 10 students at Firbank Grammar, made at the Council meeting in which the Climate Emergency was declared. Students also participated in a Q&A session with an expert panel, and interactive workshops on climate action and cultivating active hope in the time of climate crisis. Positive feedback was received from both teachers and parents following the Summit:
“Thank you for an outstanding Climate Action Summit. It was a privilege to be a part of and we look forward to continuing to raise awareness to combat Climate Change in our school community at Brighton Beach PS. Please also pass on our gratitude and appreciation to all the presenters for sharing their extensive knowledge, expertise and hope! With so many passionate people working together today, we are undoubtedly heading towards a greener future.”
– Teacher, Brighton Beach Primary School.“A huge thank you for organising and running the summit, you did an incredible job. The speakers were amazing and there were such powerful and balanced take-aways. Mentimeter was so cool and such a great way to involve everyone! My daughter is so inspired to take further action and we feel lucky to be a part of Bayside Council and the future of our planet.”
– Parent of participating student.