Teenagers win seats on Youth Against Carbon Conference

Two teenagers have been selected to join a youth-led climate programme taking place next Tuesday.

Zaqiya Cajee,17, from Mitcham and Lysander Bickham from Hammersmith secured their  places after winning two seats up for grabs on the panel at the forthcoming Youth Against Carbon Conference (YAC Con).

The event is being powered by insurer Zurich UK to provide a platform for young people to get their voices heard in the climate discussion.

Zaqiya, who attends Graveney School in Wandsworth, won her place after impressing organisers with her activism to reduce carbon emissions and the environmental initiative she founded SwopItUp, which allows teens to take action on the climate crisis.

The initiative encourages teens to set up SwopItUp clothing exchanges in their schools to address the major issue of fast fashion by giving people access to the pre-loved market.

She said: “I’m really excited to have been chosen to join the panel at the first Youth Against Carbon Conference. I believe that to prevent climate change, we all have to do our part.

“However, we must do more to support young people from all backgrounds to understand more about climate change and its impact on our planet.

“Fast fashion, for instance, is a huge issue and one of the biggest polluters. It’s vital young voices are not only heard, but that what we are say drives action and change.”

Latymer Upper School student Lysander Bickham was chosen for his eco-entrepreneurship and passion for reducing plastic consumption.

He balances his studies with running his own business, Loving Earth’s Oceans –  Leo’s Box, for short –  an eco-friendly home subscription box service which he launched last year.

His company delivers boxes of eco-friendly household and personal care products to customers to make it easier and more affordable to live in a sustainable way.

Filmed in Millbank and streamed live on Tuesday at 6.30pm. The live stream is on Zurich UK’s Instagram (@zurich_uk) and YouTube channels (Zurich UK).

Pictured top: Lysander Bickham