On Tuesday 12th March year 8, 9 and 10 pupils from Pleckgate High School, Bowland High School, Ribblesdale High School and Stonyhurst College spent the afternoon with Ribble Valley Mayor Councillor Mark Hindle, England’s youngest district councillor Aaron Wilkins-Odudu and Mara Gee and David Rawkins from Ribble Valley Climate Action Network at the council offices in Clitheroe.
Councillor Hindle explained the various responsibilities of the borough council, and noted the significance of the cumulative effect of small changes made by individuals in mitigating against the climate and nature emergency, outlining a number of ways in which we can all make a difference. He also noted the importance of setting a good example in order to encourage others to adopt sustainable practices. He stressed the need for young people to engage with the council in order to affect future change, and encouraged delegates to think about ways in which they might be able to influence the council to adapt current practice and inform future policy making.
Councillor Hindle and Councillor Wilkins-Odudu then answered a range of thoughtful and incisive questions from the pupils on a range of topics. These included the council providing financial support for households installing solar panels, the provision of green energy to support a creaking infrastructure following the building of many new houses in the area, the maintenance of grade 1 and grade 2 listed buildings in a sustainable way and the recent initiatives and strategies of the council regarding recycling and sustainability.
The pupils then split into groups to make plans for CORVS 2, the second ‘Conference of Ribble Valley Schools’ – a COP style event for Ribble Valley Secondary Schools which will take place on Tuesday June 18th at Ribblesdale High School. They considered, amongst other things, the pledges pupils and staff could make, how to report back on last year’s pledges, the different speakers and workshops to be offered, the input they would like from the mayor and other councillors, a possible eco-competition, the timetable for the day and last, but not least, a strictly vegan and vegetarian menu for lunch.
There were many imaginative and creative ideas discussed, such as inviting representatives from local industries in which pollution is inevitable to find out what they are doing to offset their emissions, how young people might engage with Ribble Valley Borough Council to promote a greener future, investigating how the issues surrounding climate change and climate justice might become embedded in the school curriculum and campaigning for Clean Air Zones near schools. The organisers of the event, RVCAN, were left with plenty of food for thought in finalising plans for June 18th!
