Young people at the heart of climate action: exchange between ministers Meisch and Wilmes and secondary school pupils

Ahead of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30), to be held in November in Belém (Brazil), Claude Meisch, Minister for National Education, Children and Youth, and Serge Wilmes, Minister for the Environment, Climate and Biodiversity, held discussions on 28 October 2025 with students from the Lycée Robert Schuman, the Athénée de Luxembourg and the Nordstad-Lycée about the challenges posed by climate change and the priorities of young people in Luxembourg in terms of climate protection.

The meeting, introduced by Michèle Remakel, headmistress of the Lycée Robert Schuman, was part of a dialogue and awareness-raising initiative aimed at giving young people a voice and encouraging their participation in the climate policy debate. During the discussion, Minister Claude Meisch emphasised the key role of education in understanding climate issues: «Educating young people about environmental challenges means giving them the means to take action and play an active part in transforming our society. Schools have an essential role to play in developing ecological awareness and encouraging responsible behaviour. Youth climate delegates Frida Thorsteinsdottir and Lara Bertemes then shared their thoughts on the main climate challenges. They stressed the central role of climate education, the need for more ambitious action, and the importance of active participation by teenagers in international negotiations, particularly in the context of COP30. The discussions gave rise to rich and dynamic exchanges between students and youth delegates.

Finally, Minister Serge Wilmes stressed the importance of the role of young people in the fight against climate change and in building a sustainable future: «Today, many pupils and students still feel insufficiently informed about the mechanisms of climate change. However, they clearly express their desire to better understand these issues, to discuss possible solutions, and to learn how to actively contribute to climate protection. It was precisely to meet this need that I initiated this meeting. We learn from each other, which is why youth participation in existing political processes is essential, and why the voice of young people must be heard at COP30.» Luxembourg will also have its own national pavilion at COP30 for the first time, marking an important step in its international commitment to climate change.

Young Luxembourgers represented in Belém
In Belém, Lara Bertemes will be joined by Sarah Mackel to bring the voice of young people to the COP30 negotiations. At the same time, students from the Lycée Robert Schuman will be taking part as part of the Youth4Climate Action project, led by the LRSL Action Team 4Future, which is committed to promoting the 17 sustainable development goals within their school. At COP30, Julien Lemmer Veloso, Zitong Ao and Lana Despotovic will present their thoughts and proposals.

A second meeting with the ministers is planned after COP30
A second meeting is scheduled to take place after COP30 in Belém, on 26 November 2025. On this occasion, ministers Claude Meisch and Serge Wilmes, together with the Youth Climate Delegates, will discuss the results of the international conference and the role of young people in implementing climate commitments.