British Council SL to host ‘Youth in Climate Action Virtual Conference’ on 28-29 Oct.

Climate change is one of the most pressing issues affecting young people today. Youth are among the most vulnerable groups to climate change impacts, particularly in developing countries like Sri Lanka. The physical hazards of climate change interact with existing socioeconomic setups, vulnerabilities, and sensitivities in complex ways that lead to varying impacts on different populations and subgroups. 

Young people are also the future leaders and decision-makers whose attitudes and actions will prove decisive for how the world addresses climate change mitigation and adaptation, it is critical to get a deeper understanding of their perceptions and understanding to climate change and action.

One thousand Sri Lankan youth shared perspectives on climate change and action. The research is part of the British Council’s Climate Connection programme, which aims to bring people around the world together to address the challenges of climate change. 

The report found a consistent call for young people to be included in policy decisions. Young people felt that their involvement would ensure more innovative ideas for tackling climate change and would have a wider, more effective reach. The findings emphasised a clear need for policymakers to channel the passion and enthusiasm of young people in more practical and structured ways.

The report will be formally launched at the ‘Youth in Climate Action Virtual Conference’ on 28 and 29 October with the participation of youth at the fore and representation from the government and other organisations. 

The conference will contribute to setup dialogue and conversations that will lead to recommendations and ideas for future, celebrate success of youth leaders working on reducing climate change impact, and discuss research evidence on how young people can effectively contribute to climate action priorities set out by Government of Sri Lanka, UK and COP26.

The United Kingdom will host the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow, Scotland from 1 to 12 November. To support COP26 ambitions, the British Council is working with partners worldwide to provide a platform for global climate co-operation, dialogue and action.

The British Council is the UK’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. It builds connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and other countries through arts and culture, education and the English language. 

In 2019-2020 the British Council reached over 75 million people directly and 758 million people overall including online, broadcasts and publications. Founded in 1934 British Council is a UK charity governed by Royal Charter and a UK public body. It receives a 14.5% core funding grant from the UK Government.