Young activists call to be ‘more involved’
Footsteps workshop on ‘Climate – Perspectives of Young People’
Birmingham youth strikers do not feel they are being heard in climate emergency decision-making, a workshop with young activists has found.
Young Friend and climate campaigner Anya Nanning Ramamurthy spoke at the Footsteps (Faiths for a Low Carbon Future) ‘Climate – Perspectives of Young People’ workshop, where, with local Muslim community activist Mahmooda Qureshi, she explored the particular contribution made by faith. A discussion followed, facilitated by Sanaa Pasha, a young Muslim climate activist, and aided by a large number of ‘chatbox’ contributors.
According to the Footsteps group: ‘A consistent plea running through the workshop was to improve communications with young people and involve them in the R20 [Route to Zero] climate emergency decision-making process. As proficient social media communicators, activists can help engagement across the city. The young people recognised the need for a just transition and the need to embrace social justice and equality issues. Young people have much to offer.’
The workshop followed the Footsteps’ 2020 Earth Day gathering in April and was partly to provide the Birmingham City Council R20 Taskforce with a young grassroots perspective.
Around ten young people aged from seventeen to twenty-five took part in the workshop.
