MAYOR ANNOUNCES NEW YOUTH-LED CITIZENS’ ASSEMBLY

Published 2 December 2023 at 8:35am

In a move to integrate young voices into work against climate change, South Yorkshire’s Mayor Oliver Coppard has announced the launch of the Youth Citizens’ Assembly.

This follows his attendance at COP28 in Dubai, where he is highlighting South Yorkshire’s work to combat climate change and sharing learnings and experiences with fellow local and regional leaders.

This innovative initiative marks a significant shift towards inclusive environmental decision-making, recognising the vital role that the younger generation plays in shaping a sustainable, net zero future. Set to commence in the new year, this Assembly is not just a forum for discussion but a powerful platform for action, designed to harness the energy, creativity, and unique perspectives of young people in South Yorkshire.

The Youth Citizens’ Assembly builds on the foundation laid by the successful Climate Change Citizens’ Assembly in South Yorkshire, and global efforts solidified at COP28 for cities to play an outsized role in climate decision making. This Assembly, which concludes on 10th December, brought together individuals from diverse backgrounds, creating a wide breadth of ideas and solutions for tackling climate change. 

Mayor Coppard’s initiative takes this a step further by specifically focusing on the voices of the youth, ensuring their rightful place at the decision-making table. Understanding that the future of our planet is intrinsically linked to the empowerment of its youngest custodians, the Youth Citizens’ Assembly aims to translate their concerns, aspirations, and innovative ideas into tangible, lasting policies.

South Yorkshire’s Mayor Oliver Coppard said: “South Yorkshire’s next generation will be living with the decisions we make today, for decades to come. They will inherit the climate we are creating through the actions we’re taking right now. 

“That’s why we’re launching the South Yorkshire Youth Citizens’ Assembly; because we must not only listen to their ideas and their concerns, but harness their energy and their commitment to making the world a better, more sustainable place. 

“In South Yorkshire we do politics differently. This is just another way in which we’re putting our communities voices at the heart of our decision making; doing politics with people, not to people.”

The planning of the new Youth Citizens’ Assembly will start in the New Year. South Yorkshire is currently running a Citizens’ Assembly on climate change which concludes on 10 December. This assembly is helping South Yorkshire make decisions about how we get to net zero by 2040.