A WINCHESTER College student fulfilled his pledge as the city’s Youth MP by hosting a Hampshire climate conference.

Hampshire Youth Parliament hosted an eco-conference in association with the Final Straw Foundation on Monday, October 17 at Winchester College.

The event welcomed 250 state school pupils and staff to the boarding school and sixth form for speeches and workshops based on climate change and sustainability.

Hampshire Chronicle:

Speakers included Gosport MP, Caroline Dinenage, and representatives from plastics charity the Final Straw Foundation, the David Shepherd Wildlife Trust and other community climate groups. As well as talks and workshops the conference hosted stalls run by the Package Free Larder, Vintage Trainer Store, Community Energy South and the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust.

Hampshire Chronicle:

READ MORE: Winchester College to host eco conference

Sixth-form pupil Dev Sharma stood for the UK Youth Parliament earlier this year. The eco event met the current Winchester Youth MP’s manifesto promise of hosting a climate conference in Hampshire.

Hampshire Chronicle:

The aim of the day was to give pupils a better understanding of the causes and impacts of climate change, plastic pollution, and the importance of sustainability. Children had the opportunity to get creative in a fast fashion workshop and explore solutions to plastic ingestion by sea creatures.

Sustainability lead and head of geography, Dr Alex Clayton, said: “Winchester College has a cross-curricular commitment to teaching about sustainability and the Climate and Ecological Emergency. We were delighted to work with Hampshire Youth Parliament and Final Straw Foundation to provide an opportunity for pupils across Hampshire to spend the day focusing on these vital issues.”