De-politicising climate change, improvements to resource management, and cleaner, greener energy are a few of the solutions called for by Eurobodalla's youth to address climate change.
Representatives from all Eurobodalla high schools came together for a forum at Tuross Head's Kyla Park Hall last month for their say on Eurobodalla Council's draft Climate Resilience Plan, which will show how Council can continue to reduce its carbon footprint and support the wider community to take action.
The loudest message on the day: local youth just want to be heard. In addressing her peers, Year 11 Carroll College student Maddi Handley said the voice of the local youth was vital.
"The voice of our youth allows for a new and fresh perspectives; it challenges previous ideas and concepts," she said.
"We may be young, and still have a lot to learn and experience, but this is the world we live in and will be growing up in. Our opinion, our perspective and our voice; they are and forever will be important."
Maddi is a member of Eurobodalla Council's youth committee, who came up with the idea to hold the forum - Council's youth development and sustainability teams then worked together to make it happen. Forum participants examined what they saw as issues with the climate, along with potential solutions, and identified what support they needed to take action.
Year 12 St Peter's Anglican College student Jarrah Limon said many solutions were large scale – things like solar rebates, and planning rules - but "we also want to be able to create change within our own lives, changing attitudes … changing our personal norms and expectations".
Council's sustainability officer Aaron Atteridge, who is developing the draft plan, said he gained much from the day.
"I was so impressed by how articulate the students were in defining what the problems were and where the solutions could be found; things like cleaner energy, tackling land use changes, preparing for extreme events and changes in weather, and providing direction on who they think should be responsible for taking action, including themselves," Mr Atteridge said.
"We'll use this input to inform the draft plan. Both of Council's youth and sustainability teams are stoked to support these motivated young people."
Eurobodalla Council's draft Climate Resilience Plan is expected to be considered by the newly-elected Council in early 2022.
