YOUTH CLIMATE conference speakers have been announced for the first-time event at the end of this month.

Wokingham Borough Council announced the Youth Climate conference will be held for the first time on March 30.

Students aged 16 and above will be heading along, listening to the guest speakers discussing means of environmental sustainability, acting as ambassadors for their schools and reporting what is discussed back to the school students.

The event, running from 4pm to 7pm, will also feature a Question Time-style panel for students to get involved.

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Ruth Gibbs, representative for Oxfam, is hoping to address the topic of sustainable fashion, focussing on what happens to clothes that are donated to the charity and how re-using, recycling or upcycling clothes can positively affect te climate as well as people around the world.

She said: “I’m excited to be involved at this critical time for our climate.

“Oxfam is leading the way in promoting second hand as a sustainable solution to fast fashion. I hope to inspire students to act now.”

Africa Bauza Garcia-Arcicollar and Alex McLaughlin, PhD students at the University of Reading, are hoping to discuss climate change in terms of social justice, exploring different principles to distribute the burdens of climate change.

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In order to do this, the students will be analysing representation, migration and morality regarding the crisis, and highlighting what can be possible ‘here and now’.

They said: “We are really excited to be part of the Wokingham Borough Council’s youth climate conference.

“We hope to transmit a sense of empathy towards affected populations and empower young people to take action here and now.”

Domnhall McFarline and Julie Pillai, members of eco-friendly transport advisors My Journey Wokingham, are hoping to address what they do as well as what can be done to make resident’s travel habits more sustainable.

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Their work applies to both schools and workplaces, as well as their work within community projects to get their message out.

They said: “We are delighted to get the chance to discuss a vitally important issue with the borough’s young people and to get their perspectives on methods to foster behaviour change.

“The choice of how we travel anywhere is a choice we make every day, and any changes will have big consequences.”

The council’s climate action plan, set out in January, includes a push to engage and educate young people in how to actively improve the borough’s environment.

Councillor Gregor Murray, executive member for climate emergency, said: “I’m delighted to invite these fantastic speakers to join us at the council offices to inform us on, and discuss, these important topics.

“These experts bring a real depth and breadth of knowledge to our event and we know the young people attending will take home ideas and information to help them make a difference in their lives.”

The event will take place in the Wokingham Borough Council offices on March 30, from 4pm to 7pm.