The Climate Hot Seat will take place ahead of the Scottish Parliament elections
Young climate activists have joined together to host a youth climate hustings in advance of the Scottish Parliament elections in May.
The Climate Hot Seat has been organised by young people aged 13-32 representing seven youth organisations in Scotland. The event creates a space specifically for young people to hold party leaders accountable for their climate action and to give other young people valuable information in advance of casting their vote on 6 May.
As we move closer to the United Nation's Climate Change Conference (COP 26) being held in Glasgow this November, young people are demanding to have a voice in decisions made on environmental issues.
In the invitation to party leaders, the group said: “Addressing climate change has never been more important than now. We only have a few years to keep warming below catastrophic levels and if elected to government, this will be something you will have to face during your term in office.”
Young people across Scotland will have the opportunity to put their climate questions to party leaders with the call for questions now open. There will also be an opportunity for young people to learn more about five key environmental areas with experts on Friday 12 March, with The Climate Hot Seat – The Warm-Up event.
The Climate Hot Seat event will take place on Friday 9 April via video conferencing. It is open to young people from age 11.
Party leaders from the five main Scottish political parties have been invited to this event.
Anna Balmain, 13, representing Children in Scotland, said: “Action needs to be taken to combat the climate crisis, and the decision on whether this action is taken, depends on each and every one of us. I hope that this event educates more young people in Scotland about the dangers of climate change and that this event provides further stimulus for young people to make informed choices in the upcoming Scottish Parliament elections.”
Fatima Bari MSYP, 18, representing the Scottish Youth Parliament, said: “I am passionate about climate change and want to make changes that better the environment and I believe one of the ways we do this is by holding our politicians to account and making sure they have the environment’s best interests at heart.”
Natalie Sweeney, of the 2050 Climate Group, said: “With everything going on in the world right now, it would be easy for climate issues to take a back seat and we are making sure that doesn’t happen.”
