Young professionals influence Sunderland’s low-carbon ambitions

Dozens of young professionals gathered together this month to help shape Sunderland’s low-carbon future.

The Sunderland Legacy programme brought together 50 18–25-year-olds who live, work or study in the city to consider ways it might be made a cleaner, greener city for future generations.

Taking place over three days and hosted by Common Purpose, a global non-profit organisation, the programme aimed to inspire potential Sunderland leaders of the future.

Participants spent two days in City Hall as well as taking part in a day of virtual sessions.

The programme culminated in a presentation session at which the young people unveiled their low-carbon ideas to senior officials from some of Sunderland’s major employers alongside City Council representatives.

Last year’s participants developed their leadership, problem-solving, and team working skills and went on to develop strong ideas, which they shared with city leaders.

Two participants were also invited to share their experience and present their ideas to the city’s 2030 Shadow Board which drives city-wide progress on low carbon.

The 2022 Sunderland Legacy cohort came back together in the autumn to think about ways they could continue to be involved in shaping the city’s low-carbon future.

Conor Sutton, a participant from last year’s programme, said: “Since taking part I have been to the city’s Shadow Board, been to the follow-up event with my group, and have since become one of the Council’s new Green Champions. I really hope to keep working to make a difference.

“I’m really looking forward to hearing the ideas that this year’s groups develop and hope that I will have the opportunity to work with them in the near future.”

Partners from across Sunderland unveiled the city’s Low Carbon Framework in December 2020, outlining a plan for the city to work towards carbon neutrality by 2040, with the first priority being to engage with people and organisations locally to help encourage more sustainable behaviours.

Activities are already underway to work with local young people in low-carbon decision-making and action, including through the city’s Environmental, Green, Sustainable (EGS) group made up of children and young people from local schools, youth groups, colleges and universities.

The Sunderland Legacy programme provides another avenue for young people to help shape the city’s low-carbon plans and activities and rise to the challenge of tackling climate change.

The Mayor of Sunderland, Coun Alison Smith, met with the participants.

She said: “Since the Council declared a climate emergency four years ago, the work to reach carbon neutrality in the city has significantly increased.

“Climate change will impact us all, but it is our young people who will feel the consequences the most, so it is only right that they should be given the opportunity and support to develop their ideas and help us to take action now.”