After the success of last year’s climate sessions, Waverley Borough Council once again hosted climate action workshops this week at The Burys, Godalming.
On Wednesday 29 June and Thursday 30 June, students from Godalming College took part in the sessions which were chaired by Godalming Town Council Mayor, Councillor Shirley Faraday and run by WhatNext?, a local organisation whose aim is to raise awareness of the climate and ecological emergency and to encourage residents to live more sustainably, consume responsibly and reduce their carbon footprint.
Around 90 students gathered to take part in a Climate Action Simulation Activity game which explored what actions can be taken to limit global warming to below 2C and as close to 1.5C as possible.
Councillor Steve Williams, Waverley Borough Council Portfolio Holder for Environment and Sustainability, said:
"We trialled the workshop with students from Godalming College and Broadwater School in the Council Chamber during the COP26 talks last year and we are delighted that What Next? offered this opportunity again. As a council with a strong commitment to serious action on climate change, we were delighted to offer the Council Chamber as a venue for this workshop and it was great to see young people engaging in the activity, learning a great deal and showing such a genuine interest for action on climate change.
“The students showed a real desire to act now for the benefit of our planet; they are the ones after all that will inherit the climate crisis that previous generations have created. In grappling with the issues, they showed a very real commitment to helping create a greener, cleaner world.”
Dr David Faraday, Chair of Trustees, What Next? added:
"This is a great opportunity for What Next? to work with young people whose whole lives will be affected by the impacts of climate change. Our workshops give students a chance to experience the complexity of climate action negotiations and agree a possible strategy for limiting local warming to the Paris Agreement target of less than 2 DegC and as close to 1.5 DegC as possible. Whilst discovering that there are many possible scenarios for delivering success, it is also clear that action needs to be taken in a wide range of policy areas by individuals, businesses, industry and governments. If we have the ambition, and we can act quickly and decisively, a sustainable future is possible."
For further information on WhatNext? and their programmes, workshops and events, which are free to residents, visit the What Next? website.
You can find out further information on Waverley Borough Council's by visiting its Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan webpage.