Youth Climate Conference

The Suffolk Youth Climate Conference gives high school students the tools to turn their enthusiasm for the recovery of our climate into action.

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Each year, hundreds of secondary schools students and their teachers gather to learn how to take action for our climate.

Following a day of celebrity guest speakers, interactive activities, stands to explore and practical workshops students and teachers leave with the knowledge and motivation to make a difference in their community.

Topics range from electric vehicles to nature-based solutions, the global food system to coastal adaptation, plastic pollution to flood and water management and sustainable fashion to climate anxiety. Something for everyone!

In 2025, we welcomed over 200 students back to Suffolk One for another inspiring day of learning, connection, and climate action. Organised by the Suffolk Climate Change Partnership and supported by M-group and Barnes Construction, the conference featured keynote speaker Steve Backshall, who captivated students with stories from his adventures as a wildlife presenter. He shared first-hand accounts of climate change’s impacts. He also delivered a powerful message about the importance of peer-reviewed science in an age of climate change denial and privately funded misinformation.

Following Steve, Amy Meek of Kids Against Plastic showcased the power of youth-led activism, sharing how a grassroots idea between two sisters grew into an international movement which allows young people to reclaim their own narrative and shape the future through collaborative campaigning and joint action.

Energised by these talks, students participated in a wide range of hands-on workshops covering marine conservation, climate justice, circular fashion, sustainable food systems, and nature-based solutions. These sessions allowed students to explore real-world environmental challenges, ask questions, and gain practical skills to help drive change in their communities.

Alongside the workshops, students explored the Green Futures area, connecting with 34 organisations working across sustainability and climate justice, and learning how they can get involved and gain experience to help them pursue green careers. Educators also participated in a dedicated programme led by the Suffolk Sustainable Schools Network and Let’s Go Zero, which focused on embedding climate action into teaching and school life. The day was a launchpad for collaborative action, reminding us all, that young people are passionate about shaping a more sustainable future.

The Youth Climate Conference will be back in 2027; we can’t wait to welcome more students then!