Youth debate to get to root of climate change problem
A debate involving young people from primary and secondary schools took place in Cardiff this week – in the hope of getting to the very root of the climate change problem.
On Wednesday, the Royal College of Psychiatrists in Wales in partnership with TEC (Technology Enabled Care) Cymru hosted the 'National Mental Health Debate for Young People' in the Norwegian Church - on the doorstep of the Senedd in Cardiff Bay.
Participating young people chose to debate the motion 'can young people prevent climate change?'.
The event was chaired by Delyth Jewell MS, Chair of the Senedd Cross-Party Group on Climate, Nature and Wellbeing.
The panel discussed the motion ‘Climate change is the most predictable and preventable global crisis, and the most predictable and exploitable innovation opportunity’.
The College also presented an animated video poem that was commissioned by the College to the Children's Laureate Wales, Connor Allen. 'The Keys to the Future' captures a previous mental health schools debate on the motion 'Can technology improve your mental health?'
The event was chaired by Professor Alka Ahuja MBE who is a consultant psychiatrist and Clinical Lead for Technology Enabled Care Cymru (TEC Cymru).
Finally, a panel discussion took place with a number of top experts including:
- Rob Orford, Chief Scientific Adviser to Welsh Government
- Alfred Williamson, Youth Climate Ambassadors Cymru
- Delyth Jewell MS, Chair of the Senedd Cross-Party Group on Climate, Nature and Wellbeing.