Eighty-six students from 19 schools raised their collective voice on several marine-related concerns at the eighth edition of the Eco-Schools Young People’s Summit held at Fort St Angelo, Vittoriosa, by Nature Trust FEE Malta.

During the summit, students of various ages discussed themes such as climate change, protection of marine life, marine litter, sustainable fishing, energy generation from the sea and the effect on communities relying on the sea. They also proposed ways of promoting a more sustainable use of the oceans and their resources.

These concerns and recommendations were collated into a declaration that was approved at the summit and presented to delegates attending two high-profile conferences – the Our Ocean 2017 conference, and the European Marine Science Educators Association conference – recently held in Malta about the vital role of seas.

Nature Trust FEE Malta said the declaration was an effort to give a voice to  citizens whose future will definitely be impacted by decisions taken at these events. The declaration was also presented to participants at the public meeting entitiled Laudato Si’: Interfaith and Secular Perspectives on Care for Creation, held at the Millennium Chapel, St Julian’s, organised by the Church Environment Commission and Nature Trust Malta.

The participants at the Eco-Schools Young People’s Summit.