SDLP Climate Champion Cara Hunter has launched a competition giving young people the chance to have their voice heard at COP26.

Ahead of the climate summit in Glasgow the SDLP is asking young people to come forward with their ideas for tackling the climate crisis.

People are being asked to submit their ideas on TikTok with the hashtag #SDLPClimateComp before November 3rd and the SDLP will raise the winning entry at COP26.

The East Derry MLA said:

“It’s long past time we take the climate crisis seriously and COP26 gives us the perfect opportunity to focus this issue in people’s minds. World leaders will be gathering in Glasgow to plan how we are going to tackle this issue and the SDLP will be there fighting for the change we need to protect our planet. We have already demonstrated our commitment to tackling this issue at both Stormont and Westminster with SDLP Leader Colum Eastwood’s Climate Emergency and Green Jobs Bill and our support for the cross-party climate change bill in the Assembly.

“When others ignored or played down the dangers the climate crisis posed to our society our young people stepped forward. Across the world young activists forced people to take this issue seriously. It’s their future at stake and they understand the issues around it better than most.

“The SDLP recognises the important role our young people have to play in this debate. If we don’t act now then our world will change rapidly within their lifetimes. We have already seen the effects of the climate crisis started to take hold with our rising temperatures and climate events around the world. We want to put our young people at the heart of government – to feel heard. We’re giving them the chance to have their voice at COP26 and we’re calling on our young people to take part and put their ideas for the future on the agenda.”