Students from secondary schools across the borough brought UN-style global climate negotiations to Solihull as they took part in a model COP29 summit.
Eight schools participated in the sixth annual Solihull Schools Climate Conference, which is hosted by Solihull Council in partnership with InterClimate Network (ICN).
The event empowers young people to explore and engage with climate change on a local, national and global scale, inspired by the COP29 discussions currently taking place in Baku.
Students split into teams to represent 16 nations at the conference in Azerbaijan and debate their country’s progress, actions progressed and what steps they could take to limit warming to 1.5c as set by the 2015 Paris Agreement, before unanimously agreeing to resolutions.
Attentions then shifted to local climate action, with schools presenting their own action plans, before a Climate Question Time gave students a chance to quiz Council Leader Councillor Ian Courts on how Solihull is tackling climate change.
The event, on Wednesday 20 November at the Council Chamber, began with an introduction from the Mayor of Solihull who shared her experiences of attending previous COP events.
The Mayor of Solihull, Councillor Shahin Ashraf MBE, said:
“This gathering was more than just a simulation—it was a powerful demonstration of how debate and collaboration can address the defining challenges of our time.
“What stood out to me was that, while I have witnessed similar discussions in international chambers, the pupils here demonstrated an inspiring level of compassion and generosity—qualities the world’s leaders would do well to emulate.
“The world will remember COP29 not for what was said but for what was done. This model conference served as a reminder of that spirit. It showed that in dialogue, there is power; and that through unity, courage, and resolve, change is possible.”
Solihull Council’s Leader, Councillor Ian Courts, said:
“Collective unity on a global scale is needed to tackle the climate crisis which is why COP29 in Baku is hugely important to us all, with the event acting as the final conference before parties submit new national plans to address climate change for the next 10 years.
“Events such as our model COP summit are a reminder of the role we must all play at a local level too, so to see so many young people engaged and examine the global impact of climate change whilst showcasing their own schools’ climate actions is inspiring, and I hope they have learned a huge amount from taking part.
“Tackling climate change is a key priority for us as a Council which is why I introduced the climate change prospectus some years ago, highlighting the benefits of action on many fronts, whether through helping residents make their homes more energy efficient and save money, through to embracing active travel and electric vehicles to support green jobs and growth.
“There are many ways to get involved and reap the benefits and I would implore all residents to take inspiration from these young people of Solihull and think of what they could do to contribute to a more sustainable borough.”
To learn more about what Solihull Council is doing to combat climate change and ways you can get involved, sign up to receive updates or take a look at the Your Future Solihull webpages.