Carinthian students hold summit to promote climate action

About 150 students from across Carinthia gathered at the CHS school in Villach for their own climate summit, discussing ways everyone can help protect the climate, ORF reported. The meeting took place as politicians, diplomats and experts negotiated at the UN climate conference in Turkey.

The students said their generation would experience the effects of climate change more than any before it. Record heat, natural disasters and melting glaciers are among the issues concerning young people in Carinthia.

Students from eight schools gave presentations on the causes of climate change and ways to improve climate protection. The talks were also streamed live online.

Lilly Kravanja, a student at CHS Villach, said extreme summer heat and hot nights were already noticeable. In winter, she said, there was often too little snow for skiing or sledging, and it no longer stayed on the ground.

The students agreed that everyone could and should contribute to climate protection. Clemens Hinteregger, from Stiftsgymnasium St. Paul im Lavanttal, suggested buying more sustainably and asking whether new purchases were really needed.

The summit ended with a meal prepared by CHS Villach students using regional and seasonal products, an example of how people can work together on climate protection.