PUPILS from five secondary schools and two primary schools in Carmarthenshire have been to the Senedd in Cardiff to address climate change and promote sustainable solutions.
The termly Carmarthenshire Climate Action Group (CAG) meeting took place on Monday, 31 March. The meeting was opened by Zain and Ali from Ysgol Bryngwyn and chaired by Menna and Lewis from Ysgol Bro Dinefwr. The event included pupil representatives from Ysgol Ffwrnes, Ysgol Penrhos, Ysgol Bryngwyn, Ysgol Coedcae, Ysgol Bro Dinefwr, Ysgol Maes y Gwendraeth and Queen Elizabeth High School. The meeting agenda focused on areas chosen from the CAG’s manifesto.
The main topic of discussion was reducing food waste in schools, school lunch menus, developing productive growing spaces in schools to include local communities and building partnerships with local food producers. The meeting included pupil presentations and discussions on how local and national strategies can support positive actions and change.
All pupils presented updates on their current work to support positive adaptations in response to the Climate and Nature Emergency. The meeting was also attended by the Authority’s Cabinet Member Cllr Aled Vaughan Owen, Member of the Senedd Lee Walters, Swansea University and the Good Life Schools Programme.
CAG was set up in November 2021 and includes pupils from 15 primary and 11 secondary schools across Carmarthenshire, as well as senior Council members and officers. It encourages young people to debate and discuss climate issues and actively seek solutions, fostering positive change within schools and local communities. This strengthens communication, promotes cross-departmental collaboration, and ensures pupil representation within all departments of the Local Authority.
CAG meetings are held every three months and chaired by two pupil representatives on a rotating basis.
Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Decarbonisation, and Sustainability, Cllr Aled Vaughan Owen said: “CAG is a fantastic example of collaboration between young people, the Local Authority, and the wider community.
“This meeting highlighted the ongoing efforts to create positive environmental change by empowering our students through a pupil-led platform that engages young people in discussions about the issues that matter most to them.”
