Team of young Midlands Engine Green Growth Champions to help shape region’s journey to net zero

Building on the momentum of COP26, The Midlands Engine partnership will run its flagship Young People’s Green Growth Assembly (YPGGA) on 11 March at the East Midlands Conference Centre in Nottingham.

The event follows the publication of Midlands Engine’s Ten Point Plan for Green Growth, which sets out important actions to help safeguard the environment for future generations.

It captures coordinated regional action which has the power to deliver, by 2041, a 36% reduction in carbon emissions, 196,000 new jobs and £24.2 billion GVA per year to the economy.

The YPGGA is an important milestone in our region’s journey to net zero – a chance for influential leaders from every part of the Midlands Engine to connect with a committed group of young people from across the Midlands. Coming together, they will share insights, aspirations and views on how, together, we can shape a greener, cleaner, more prosperous future.

The YPGGA will be led by 30 ‘Green Growth Champions’, aged 15-19. Together they have collaborated to co-design a series of interactive sessions. These sessions will be led by the GGCs throughout the day, posing questions to green growth leaders in the Midlands.

With an audience of universities, government bodies, businesses, industry and environmental organisations, the Assembly will provide a platform for our regional Green Growth Champions to contribute to and influence the green growth ambitions of the Midlands.

During the event, there will also be several keynotes and creative showcases from youth arts organisations across the Midlands, including music and performance, inspired by the event’s themes of climate change and green growth.

Sir John Peace, Chairman, Midlands Engine, said:

“We want to drive change, create opportunities and accelerate green growth right across the Midlands. Never more than now has the spirit of collaboration which we enjoy across our region been more central to our future success. Working together, we can and will ensure our economic recovery and community prosperity – underpinned by sustainable growth and by working to safeguard our environment for today’s and future generations.

“Midlands Engine and our Green Growth Champions have been working hard to design an Assembly that will express the environmental concerns of young people across the Midlands and give them a chance to be right at the heart of future action planning. After all, the future is theirs – and it’s our young people who hold and will deliver many of the solutions we need to recover our planet and restore nature’s balance.

“Our Ten Point Plan sets out actions towards reaching net zero by 2041, and the younger generation will be vital in taking forward this transition to a sustainable economy and planet.”

Scarlett, Green Growth Champion from Nottingham, said:

“Planning and taking part in the Young People’s Green Growth Assembly is a great opportunity for me to bring my ideas to the table and help make our region more sustainable.

“I am passionate about making a positive impact within my community, and I’m really happy to have been able to meet so many like-minded people during the planning process so far.”

Puruchothman, Green Growth Champion from Nottingham, said:

“I am very passionate about climate change and making a positive impact on the wider community, and becoming a Green Growth Champion is my way of showing that. I hope more young people from different backgrounds get involved to make this world a better place for all of us to live in.”