COP26 Action

Our staff and students have been involved in COP26, the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties.

Lower Sixth student Maria was selected to attend the summit in Glasgow; she was one of 20 Sixth Formers from different schools, chosen to represent the UK Schools Sustainability Network – a national organisation of youth environmentalists who collaborate on new green initiatives and ideas to implement in schools.

Speaking to the Ham & High about her experience, Maria commented: “At South Hampstead, we’re always encouraged to speak up and use our voices to effect change. That sense of responsibility and a connection to nature were my main motivations for applying to attend.”

It was an incredible opportunity to be chosen to go to Glasgow, to represent the voices of so many pupils.

At the summit, which aimed to accelerate action towards the goals of the Paris Agreement and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, Maria and fellow students worked with student charity PPL PWR in the main exhibition Green Zone, promoting sustainability and joining discussions about climate anxiety.  Maria also met COP26 President, Alok Sharma; Nigerian eco-activist, Kelo Uchendu; and visited a local primary school with the UN Youth Envoy for Climate Change, Nisreen Elsaim.

Our UN accredited climate change teacher, Ms Wrigglesworth, and Director of Philanthropy, Mrs Whitworth, also took part in an online event on climate science-based targets; the session, now available online, was part of a series of online events hosted by One Carbon World, in collaboration with the United Nations Climate Neutral Now initiative, promoting action and change.

As a school, we have ambitious environmental targets to achieve by our 150th anniversary in 2026; read more about our ‘Project Zero’ goals and sustainability strategy here.