Swansea teens take to streets for climate education

● On Sunday 11th of April a small group of students from across the Swansea
region took part in small pickets and banner drops across their city centre
● They did this as part of a UK and international week of action, coordinated by
Teach the Future, to call on the devolved governments of the UK and ministers
of Europe to implement climate education
● Their actions centred around monumental local landmarks related to systems
they are trying to change in an aim to attract as much public attention to their
cause

This week four Welsh secondary students met in Swansea to coordinate actions, as a
part of an international week of action calling for climate change’s inclusion into the
curriculum

The young activists are leading the Teach the Future Wales campaign, which was
founded and is now hosted by the UK Student Climate Network Wales and Students
Organising for Sustainability UK. It has the support of many organisations including
Keep Wales Tidy, the Centre for Alternative Technology, National Education Union and
many other sustainability, conservation and social justice groups; all of whom
provide the group with validity and a platform off of which to spread their message.

During this day of action across the city, the student campaigners from Teach the
Future, supported by the local climate action group: Youth Strike 4 Climate Swansea,
hung banners and took part in small scale pickets at and outside of monumental
locations in the city’s history. These included the Guildhall, Crown Court, Statue of the First Baron of Swansea and the Castle – all being key in the regions push for change
in recent history and now reflecting in the activism of the younger generation in the
Swansea Bay and surrounding areas. They highlighted the plight of Welsh students
who are not being adequately taught about climate change and its associated
social, political and cultural implications, calling for the education system to be
rapidly reorientated; with this aiming to equip students with the skills and knowledge
to face the climate crisis, acknowledge the disparities in the effect climate change
and environmental breakdown has on different communities in society and sustain a
green and just society.

The students are asking for the Welsh Minister for Education in next Senedd to follow
through with commitments made by Kirsty Williams to ensure that young people are
taught about this across the curriculum, as she laid out in her What Matter
Statements. In addition to this, through campaigning on a national level over the
course of the past few months they plan to to continue with parliamentary lobbying
and pushing for legislative change.

They hope that this action will gain the attention of local politicians ahead of this May
6th election and urge them into putting the climate emergency and its relevance in
education reform at the forefront of their policy platform and vote, if elected.

(Sam Barrett, 16, Teach the Future Wales and UKSCN Wales, Ammanford) said:
“I attended the banner drops in Swansea today as I feel very strongly about
education on climate justice. I’ve been an activist for about 2 years essentially
everything I know about the climate crisis aside from the absolute scientific
basics, comes from my own research. Teachers are woefully unequipped to
educate my generation about a crisis that is going to affect us within our lifetime.
This has to change and the curriculum must include climate change on the
curriculum to educate young people on the crisis, without first knowing about it,
people will not act upon the highly pressing issue.”

(Elian Hooper, 15, Youth Strike 4 Climate Swansea and Vegan Action Wales, Neath)
said:
“Educating our youth is not only important for our future, but it will help create a
healthier and safer planet for generations to come. I hope our actions today
reflect that urgent action is needed, and that we inspire people to get involved.“