150 students attend Beyond COP21 Symposium
- Eco News
Students from seven schools in Luxembourg attended a sustainability symposium at St George’s International School on Friday, 28th April, to learn about climate change and develop practical skills to take action.
The Beyond COP21 Symposium, held in Luxembourg for the first time, brought together more than 150 secondary students for workshops, discussions and networking on sustainability, climate change and the environment.
The event has previously been staged in 18 countries, with St George’s hosting the 34th symposium in a global series, which began in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, in 2016. It was opened by the British Ambassador, Fleur Thomas, and attended by representatives from the Ministry of Environment, Climate and Sustainable Development, and the British Chamber of Commerce.
St George’s Sustainability Coordinator Anne-Marie McHugh said: “The Beyond COP21 symposium offers an opportunity for us to come together as a school community to build hope through sharing concerns and ideas to help support students on our journey in sustainability.” The workshops and exhibitors were selected to teach practical tools and inspire students to make positive change.
Students engaged in workshops on upcycling clothing, producing films on sustainable topics and building pollinators from recycled materials. They also attended an interactive exhibition showcasing 11 companies and organisations in Luxembourg that promote sustainability.
Peter Milne, facilitator of the symposium series and founder/director of Target4Green, said it was important for young people to see and engage with companies and organisations at the forefront of sustainability because it helped them to identify ways they could take action. “The symposiums give young people the chance to work on local solutions to a global problem,” he said.
Guest speakers included Filip Westerlund, CEO of Our Choice Fashion, a Luxembourg-based circular fashion brand that specialises in footwear responsibly and ethically made from sustainable, recyclable and recycled materials, and Dr Claudia Hitaj from the Ministry of Environment, Climate and Sustainable Development, who discussed what everyone can do to reduce their carbon footprint.
Participating schools included St George’s, the European School I and II, Lycée Classique d’Echternach, International School of Luxembourg, Lycée Robert-Schuman and Lycée Vauban. The next symposium will be hosted by Chester Schools Together, UK, on 26th May.
