PUPILS from a Renfrew school delivered a powerful message about climate change as they took part in the COP26 summit in Glasgow.

The ‘Let’s Talk Energy’ event saw 80 young people from 10 secondary schools across the country, including Renfrew High, come together to create their own net-zero energy policy.

They set out the changes needed to achieve the Scottish Government’s target of net-zero by 2045 as they met energy industry leaders at an official COP26 event hosted by ScottishPower Renewables in the climate conference’s ‘Green Zone’ at the Glasgow Science Centre.

The policy’s top three priorities are supporting skills development, including training options for young people in the renewables industry, to deliver green jobs; investment to increase the amount of green energy available from the likes of wind and solar power; and improving processes to make renewable energy available faster than ever before and making it easier for people to switch to a low-carbon lifestyle.

Making it simpler to switch to greener forms of transport, such as electric vehicles you can charge at home or electrifying trains and buses, also scored highly.

Lindsay McQuade, CEO of ScottishPower Renewables, is full of praise for the school pupils who have taken part in the project.

“Young people’s voices are being heard loud and clear at COP26,” said Lindsay.

“It was inspiring and encouraging to hear their views on what we have to do now if we’re going to achieve net-zero by 2045.

“They recognise fully that we need do more, and do it faster, if we’re going to address the climate emergency and they got straight to the point.

“As they set out, Scotland has enormous potential but we will only achieve net-zero with the right investment, skills development and processes in place.

“They have a bold vision for a cleaner and greener country and it’s a vision that can become a reality if we all take climate action now.”