International Student Debate winners to visit The Living Rainforest, Hampstead Norreys, for centre’s 30th anniversary

The winners for the 13th annual International Student Debates have been announced by the Trust for Sustainable Living.

More than 100 primary and secondary school pupils from 32 countries engaged in a series of online discussions on June 7 and 8, debating their hopes and fears for the green jobs of tomorrow.

And this year, grand prize winners from the last four years have been invited to mark the 30th anniversary of The Living Rainforest at Hampstead Norreys. They will also be visiting the House of Commons and the Universities of Reading and Oxford.

On Tuesday, June 27, prize-winning students will be the guests of honour at an afternoon tea in the House of Commons, hosted by Newbury MP Laura Farris. Other guests invited include sustainability and climate leaders, politicians and supporters.

And the following day, the group will tour The Living Rainforest and meet the senior management team to discuss sustainability education strategy and opportunities for international education engagement.

Both days are in aid the centre’s 30th anniversary, which hopes to unveil its plans for the next 30 years, which include rebuilding the centre and helping to close the sustainability learning gap worldwide.

“I have been inspired by the way these young people think and how convincingly and powerfully they debate,” said TSL executive director, Karl Hansen.

“Their energy and creative intelligence fills me with hope as nations struggle to get to net zero, protect biodiversity and achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

“Massive thanks to all the competitors, and also to the wonderful teachers and schools who have supported them.”

Some of the arguments put forward in this year’s debate included calls for more partnerships between government, business and education; low-cost learning programmes; and practical internships and apprenticeships.

International ESD manager for the TSL, Kirsty Shakespeare, added: “It has been inspiring and shocking to hear the powerful stories and logic of these representatives of the next generation.

“We have seen how so many hopes and fears are shared by young people across the world and can feel their energy and determination to get involved and make a difference.”

She continued: “The majority of these teenagers believe us adults need to do more to support their generation to thrive in the green jobs of tomorrow.

“The message I take away is that the kids are right.

“Adults around the world owe it to the next generation to give them the tools to contribute to fixing the environmental problems caused by past generations and facing us all.”

The debates, virtual since 2020 to cut carbon emissions, have previously been hosted at The Living Rainforest.

Visit www.trustforsustainableliving.org/news/tsl-2023-international-student-debate-winners to view all of this year’s individual student winners and highly commended.

The next competition will begin in early September.

Please visit visit www.trustforsustainableliving.org/take-part for further details.