Inspiring the next generation at the 2024 Youth Climate Summit

On Tuesday, 28 May 2024, around 50 young people from local high schools met at the Encounter Bay Oval to discuss how to tackle climate change in our region.

The Youth Climate Summit aims to bring together young people across the Fleurieu Peninsula to share knowledge, explore ideas and develop skills for conserving our environment. This year's theme was 'Find Your Voice'.

Students had the opportunity to hear from a range of guest speakers, including Kyla McHughes, a Ngarrindjeri artist and language teacher, and Tiffany Nay, a representative of Coorong, Lower Lakes and Murray Mouth Research Centre.

Students at the summit gained practical skills and knowledge through a series of workshops tailored to their personal interests. These workshops provided them with tangible concepts on making a difference in the fight against climate change.

Workshops included Ngarrindjeri Language, Storytelling and Weaving Nunga Bands with Kyla McHughes, Climate Justice 101 & Growing Groups in Schools with the Australian Youth Climate Coalition (which included how to start a movement and how to speak to be heard). In these workshops, young people discovered where to find resources for support and how to get involved at a state level.

The Role of Food in Climate Change with Liz Sanders from The Food Embassy included exposure to potentially new food and drink available locally, why food miles matter and the importance of seasonal produce.

This image depicting a Fish (Ma:mi) [photo attached] in a collaborative live art installation, formed by the students, organisers and presenters at the event, is an example of using art for activism. It is a reminder that there is plenty going on below the surface. The image, credited to Libby Tozer and supported by Jesse Ehlers, Nisa Schebella and Kyla McHughes and taken by South Coast Aerial Images, was posted on social media along with the campaign statements made by students on the day regarding Climate Change.

“The youth had some incredible insights, ideas and even potential solutions during the Youth Climate Summit. Hopefully, this image is another drop of hope in the pond, allowing youth to be both seen and heard in the larger climate change conversation.” said Ms Tozer, “Microplastics found in fish are also being found in humans and climate change is affecting nature, which includes us.”

To conclude the day, students created their own personal Climate Action Plan to take home and implement in their daily lives. A follow-up day was held at the Coorong, Lower Lakes and Murray Mouth Research Centre, where students delved deeper into the impacts of actions on climate change and were able to explore the Goolwa Barrage system and understand the cause and effects of this implementation on the environment, agriculture and economy. They explored the impacts of global warming and rainfall changes in our region and how this will affect them and the future.

Students will be encouraged to join existing community groups and programs to continue this journey of learning or to begin their own groups in school using the newfound skills they have learned.

The Youth Climate Summit has been a collaboration between the District Council of Yankalilla, the City of Victor Harbor and the Alexandrina Council.