Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills meets students at Fuel Change Live

The Scottish Government’s Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills, Shirley-Anne Somerville MSP, met with students from 27 high schools across Scotland as they participated in a one-day showcase of a pioneering climate literacy and skills development programme run by business transformation enterprise Fuel Change.

Addressing Fuel Change Live at Edinburgh’s Dynamic Earth on Wednesday 2 November, the Cabinet Secretary outlined the importance of climate education as a key driver in finding solutions to real-world sustainability issues facing businesses and citizens.

During the one-day event, over 50 pupils from across Scotland were tasked with coming up with a bespoke solution to a real-life sustainability challenge set by Fuel Change’s event partner, Scottish Water, on responsible use of natural resources. The S5 and S6 students collaborated in teams to research the issue, come up with a creative solution, and present their ideas to Scottish Water and representatives from the business and skills community via a short film. 

“It is great to see so many pupils involved from around the country and we are confident they will create some great short films to highlight the value of water, it’s links with energy and the environment, and why it is always worth saving.”

Brian McCarthy
Economic Demand Manager, Scottish Water

Fuel Change brings together schools, educators and businesses to engage the Next Generation on driving a positive transition to net zero through skills development. The unique Fuel Change Challenge Programme for schools, colleges and the workplace tasks Next Generation participants aged 16-25 to take on a real-world climate challenge that has been set by industry, collaborate on a solution, and present it.

Having launched in 2020, Fuel Change has already worked with 1,500 participants and established partnerships with 115 organisations to solve decarbonisation challenges and unleash talent within the Next Generation. The Fuel Change Challenge for Education - an SCQF-level 6 accredited programme for senior-phase high school and college students - is underway in 21 pathfinder secondary schools across Scotland. 

Education Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said:

“Scotland has some of the world’s most ambitious climate change targets and was one of the first nations to embed sustainability education as an entitlement for all learners. It’s great to see the creativity of our children and young people as they consider real-life sustainability challenges.
 
“It will require a collective effort to reach net zero by 2045 and I am grateful to Fuel Change for their ongoing work on climate education.”

Jennifer Tempany, Chief Operating Officer at Fuel Change said:

“We are delighted to have welcomed the Cabinet Secretary to the event to kick off the challenge, set by Scottish Water, on sustainable use of Scotland’s natural resources.  

“Fuel Change Live is a brilliant showcase of our pioneering Challenge programme, which aims to empower the Next Generation to change the world for the better, and invest in the skills that will be key assets for prospective future employers. To have almost 30 schools from across Scotland participate in Fuel Change Live makes these schools real trailblazers in climate education.

“Fuel Change has ambitions to roll out the Challenge for Education Programme to every school and college in Scotland. By bringing brilliant young minds from across Scotland together with the Cabinet Secretary and the business and skills community at Fuel Change Live, we hope to demonstrate the sheer power of what the Next Generation can achieve when given the right tools to expand their climate literacy and future workplace skills.”

Brian McCarthy, Economic Demand Manager at Scottish Water said:

“Scottish Water are delighted to have set the challenge. It is great to see so many pupils involved from around the country and we are confident they will create some great short films to highlight the value of water, it’s links with energy and the environment, and why it is always worth saving."