Having initiated and led efforts on the School’s Climate Assembly project at Stockport Council, Stockport’s Liberal Democrats were proud to welcome the borough’s young people to the council chamber as one of the first acts of their newly formed Cabinet.
Cllr Mark Roberts, Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Environment, said: “It was a brilliant event and I believe a unique exercise in listening to young people’s views on climate change and where they want us as decision makers to be focusing our efforts. We need to listen to our community as leaders, especially those who will be living with the consequences of climate change the longest, our inspirational young people.”
As far as we know this event was a first time in the UK that young people have been given a chance to speak truth to power (and older generations) in this way, and to see how local democracy works in the process. The wider project has been working in schools and the ideas debated will be presented to all the elected members at a council meeting in July.
Lib Dem Council Leader, Cllr Mark Hunter, added: “As Leader I have made clear that the Liberal Democrat administration will be focused on dealing with climate change and its effects. It is why I have created a cabinet portfolio with specific responsibility for it this year, to feed into all workstreams of the council.
“The quality of the young people’s debate was exceptional and I look forward to perhaps welcoming some of these young people back to the chamber as councillors for their communities in the future.”
