Cross Party Group on Climate, Nature and Wellbeing
Grŵp Trawsbleidiol ar Hinsawdd, Natur a Lles
17:00 – 18:00
26.10.2023
Virtual Meeting over Zoom
Cyfarfod ar-lein dros Zoom
Welcome and introduction
Delyth Jewell AS/MS
Minutes of the last meeting
Delyth Jewell AS/MS
Youth Climate Ambassadors for Wales
Rhiannon Hawkins, cynrychiolydd person ifanc yng Ngholeg Brenhinol y Seiciatryddion ac ymddiriedolwr yn y Green Economics Institute
Climate Change in Schools
Rhiannon Hawkins, young person representative for the Royal College of Psychiatrists and trustee at the Green Economics Institute
Group discussion and presentation of recent work
Any other business and date of next meeting
Delyth Jewell AS/MS
Attendees: Antonia Fabian (AF), Erin Owain (EO), Ioan Bellin (IB), Laura Haig (LH), Michelle Bales (MB), Luke Jefferies (LJ), Ollie John (OJ), Patrick Jones (PJ), Rhiannon Hawkins (RH), Rob Palmizi (RP),
MS in attendance: Delyth Jewell MS (DJ)
Apologies: Delun Gibby, Heledd Fychan MS, Llyr Gruffydd MS, Mike Hedges MS, Molly Hucker
Minutes
Croeso a chyflwyniad / Welcome and introduction
DJ carried out the welcome and introductions to members of the group and went through the apologies.
Cofnodion y cyfarfod diwethaf / Minutes of the last meeting
The minutes of the last meeting will be agreed at the following meeting of the Cross Party Group.
Llysgenhadon Hinsawdd Ieuenctid Cymru / Youth Climate Ambassadors for Wales
RH updated that the Youth Climate Ambassadors launched a petition in July to force the government to recognise the impact of climate change on refugees and how people are forced to leave their homes due to climate related reasons. The YCA are calling on local politicians and other organisations to sign the petition.
The YCA have also recently held meeting with key stakeholders.
LJ queried how many ambassadors were in the YCA and how long it has been running, and whether the ambassadors may be interested in participating on some research.
RH replied that there are between 30 and 60 ambassadors varying from under 18s to older members. She agreed that it would be interesting to carry out some research into the ambassadors working in instigating legal change and youth activism.
LH mentioned that Eco Schools Wales and Size of Wales are running a youth COP event in November which runs alongside the real COP and encouraged RT to share the information.
RH replied that she could share it with her school contacts and mailing list.
newid hinsawdd mewn ysgolion Rhiannon Hawkins, cynrychiolydd person ifanc yng Ngholeg Brenhinol y Seiciatryddion ac ymddiriedolwr yn y Green Economics Institute / Climate Change in Schools Rhiannon Hawkins, young person representative for the Royal College of Psychiatrists and trustee at the Green Economics Institute
RH has been working on developing a climate charter of what young people and teachers would like to be teaching in schools in Wales associated with climate change. This started through a collaboration between RH and a geography teacher who was a member of TIDE Global Learning. The idea grew into a conference bringing together young people from across South Wales
The first part was focused on different themes within climate change, discussing technological innovations for net zero, activism, and the mental health impact of Climate Change.
The event included a wide social scope with the aim of giving the young people different insights which they may otherwise not have had in a school environment.
As a result of the conference, the young people and teachers created 10 demands on how they would like to approach climate education in schools.
The event organisers secured £3000 worth of funding from the co-ed educational Charity Trust, which Cardiff University providing the venue free of charge.
There will be a follow up conference held in December looking at how schools have implemented some of the suggested changes and how climate based learning has been integrated in schools.
Moving forward, there is the aim of holding these climate conferences nationally, running one in all of the major cities.
LH thanked RH for the talk and has asked for a further conversation as she works with Welsh Government delivering climate education across Wales.
DJ mentioned that they have recently put down a motion in the Senedd to reform the curriculum and guidance around climate education and teachers addressing eco anxiety.
PJ thanked RH for the fantastic talk.
OJ added that he was fortunate enough to attend the conference, and that the outcomes were staggering with 250 young people adding to the climate charter and that teaching climate change not just through a scientific lens is key. The event has brought many opportunities for positive
Trafod a chyflwyno gwaith diweddar / Group discussion and presentation of recent work
DJ proposed that the CPG could meet once a term moving forward to encourage increased attendance from other MSs
RP brought up that the Lottery Heritage Fund has announced a new strategy about funding well-being integrated projects and advised the group that they are looking for applicants.
EO asked the group if there were any plans for Wales Climate Week coming up towards the end of November.
DJ replied that the youth COP is linked in with this and LH added that there will be two, one in North Wales and one in South Wales.
RH stated that the date of the Teens and Teachers take on Climate Change conference is the 6th December.
Busnes arall / Any other business and date of next meeting
There was no other business
The date of the next meeting will be set at a future time.