On 5th November 2025, Malvern St James School proudly hosted the 50th Beyond COP21 Symposium, a milestone event in a global movement dedicated to empowering young people to lead the sustainability conversation. This was part of a two day experience at MSJ. On day one students from MSJ discussed climate and environmental issues and on day 2  five visiting schools joined MSJ to explore the pressing challenges of climate change as well as the practical steps we can all take to make a positive difference.

About Beyond COP21

The Beyond COP21 Symposium series, founded by Peter Milne, builds on the momentum of international climate conferences by engaging students in meaningful dialogue and action. Each symposium connects local and global issues, encouraging schools to take practical steps toward a sustainable future. Learn more about the movement here: https://www.beyondcop21symposium.org/overview/

Day One: MSJ Students Take the Lead

The first day focused exclusively on MSJ pupils, with workshops tailored to every age group. From Reception to Sixth Form, students engaged in activities designed to spark curiosity and action:

• Years 10–11: Explored Climate Change: From Cause and Consequences to Rights and Responsibilities, followed by a creative workshop on expressing emotions around climate change.
• Year 12 & 13: Investigated the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), debating which were most relevant to life in the UK.
• Years 4–6: Tackled water dilemmas in a session on Children’s Environmental Rights, inspired by global case studies.
• Reception: Discovered The Story of Stuff, learning about waste and upcycling through hands-on challenges.
• Student Year Group leaders:  discussed ideas with Peter about green schools and what MSJ can do.

The day concluded with parent and staff sessions, reinforcing MSJ’s whole-school commitment to environmental leadership.

Day Two: Collaboration and Community

The second day brought together five visiting schools for a full symposium experience. After a warm MSJ welcome and a message from Truro High School for Girls, Peter Milne opened with a keynote on global and local environmental issues, linking climate change to the SDGs and COP conferences.

Students then participated in:

• Creative SDG Mind-Mapping, focusing on Responsible Consumption and Production.
• Youth Voices Panel, hosted by MSJ students, where participants tackled questions such as: Some people think teens don’t have enough power to create change. What would you say to them? If you could ask world leaders one question about climate change, what would it be? How can we remain hopeful in the face of the climate crisis?
• Carousel Activities, including: A visit to the exhibition on Responsible Consumption featuring local sustainability groups, Dr Jeff Allan’s session on environmental science, Edukid’s workshop on global education and sustainability and Target4Green activities on emotions surrounding climate anxiety.

Exhibition of local groups and organisations

One of the most impactful elements of the symposium was the exhibition, which showcased inspiring organisations from in and around Malvern:

• Repair Café – promoting repair and reuse with hands-on demonstrations.
• Malvern Hills Trust – protecting and managing the iconic Malvern Hills.
• RSPB – engaging visitors with bird conservation activities, including owl pellet analysis.
• Transition Malvern – sharing practical local projects to tackle climate change.
• Malvern Hills Car Clubs – offering sustainable transport alternatives.
• Malvern Community Forest – encouraging community involvement in woodland and meadow creation.
• Malvern Green Space – connecting local environmental groups.
• Edukid – advocating for education as a tool for global change.
• Jeff Vehicles – showcasing electric and hydrogen transport solutions.
• Energy Tracers – helping residents reduce energy consumption affordably.
• Malvern Hills Food Bank – supporting local families in crisis.
• Malvern Cube Projects – providing youth activities with a sustainability focus.

The exhibition reminded everyone that climate change is not just an environmental issue—it is deeply connected to social and economic conditions. It encouraged attendees to reflect on the small actions they could take every day, as well as the bigger initiatives they could join to make a difference. It was a powerful reminder that we are all interconnected, and that meaningful change begins with individual and collective responsibility.

Turning Anxiety into Action

The day closed with reflections from each school, celebrating shared learning and commitment to a sustainable future.

The symposium was more than a learning experience—it was a call to turn fear into hope through thoughtful actions and to turn climate anxiety into positive steps for change. Students mixed with peers from other schools, made new friends, and discovered that collaboration is key to tackling global challenges.

As one student reflected: ‘The day showed us that even small actions matter. Together, we can make a big difference.’