Children’s voices take centre stage during the 15th Young People’s Summit

Over 112 students and 43 educators from schools across Malta and Gozo gathered on Monday for the 15th edition of the Young People’s Summit, organised by Nature Trust – FEE Malta through the EkoSkola programme in collaboration with the Climate Action Authority and the Malta ESG Alliance.

The summit continued to provide a national platform where children and young people can actively participate in discussions related to climate action, sustainability, and the future they wish to see for Malta. Through interactive workshops and discussions, students shared ideas, concerns, and practical recommendations linked to environmental and climate-related challenges.

The event opened with welcome addresses by Mr Vincent Attard, President of Nature Trust – FEE Malta, Perit David Xuereb, Chairperson of the Malta ESG Alliance, and Ing. Abigail Cutajar, Chief Executive Officer of the Climate Action Authority.

During the summit, participating students engaged in workshop sessions focusing on the four main pillars of the Envision 2050 where they presented tangible SMART goals with several KPIs in line with the document’s objectives. This was followed by a question-and-answer session with company CEOs from the Malta ESG Alliance. The discussion gave students the opportunity to engage directly with leaders from the business sector on environmental responsibility, innovation, and sustainable practices. Pertinent questions raised and suggestions offered by the students related amongst others to transport, construction and well-being practices.

As a continuation of last year’s initiative, the Climate Action Authority also provided participants with a lunch box and a reusable Ġuża Ħanfusa drinking bottle, further promoting sustainable practices during the event.

The summit concluded with the presentation and approval of the final declaration containing the students’ recommendations and proposals. The Minister for the Environment, Energy, and Public Cleanliness, Hon. Miriam Dalli, attended this concluding session and addressed participants.

Speaking during the summit, Minister Miriam Dalli emphasised the importance of listening to children and young people when shaping climate and environmental policies, noting that initiatives such as the EkoSkola Young People’s Summit help ensure that students’ voices fuels national discussions and future action.

Mr Vincent Attard, President of Nature Trust – FEE Malta, stated that the EkoSkola programme has, for more than twenty years, continued empowering children to participate actively in environmental decision-making processes. He highlighted that students are not only expressing concern about environmental challenges but are also proposing the best practical solutions that can positively influence schools, communities, and the country as a whole. Mr Attard also thanked two corporate partners in the EkoSkola programme, HSBC Bank Malta and Atlas Insurance, who have been instrumental for this programme’s success in the Maltese Islands.

Ing. Abigail Cutajar reiterated that the Climate Action Authority considers young people important partners in climate action efforts and gave tangible examples of how the authority worked on the suggestions put forward by students in the past edition. She also stressed the importance of continuing to create spaces where students can meaningfully contribute to discussions on sustainability and environmental responsibility.

Perit David Xuereb highlighted the importance of collaboration between schools, public entities, and the private sector in building a more sustainable future, while encouraging continued dialogue between young people and businesses on environmental, social, and governance practices to ensure resilience in economic and wellbeing practices.

The declaration approved during the summit will continue contributing to ongoing discussions related to environmental and climate action initiatives, reinforcing the importance of youth participation in shaping a more sustainable future.

Since the Parliament is presently dissolved due to the upcoming general election, the yearly EkoSkola Parliament session will not be held this year. EkoSkola students will be presenting the declaration to the main party leaders in the coming days as a memorandum, to be considered for their respective electoral manifestos.