Students hold COP26 climate stunt outside York Minster

All Saints students with 'Eyes of the World' banner outside York Minster. Image: Lars B Karlsson/ Diocese of Middlesbrough

Pupils from All Saints Roman Catholic School are calling on world leaders to tackle the climate crisis and ensure those worst affected are put at the heart of this year's climate talks.

In a stunt outside York Minster yesterday, 60 pupils from All Saints Roman Catholic School held a banner reminding the government that "The 'Eyes of the World' are watching" ahead of the UK hosting world leaders the UN climate conference 'COP26' in Glasgow this November.

Penning her powerful poem 'Turtle', told through the eyes of a turtle navigating life in a sea filled with plastic waste, year 8 pupil from All Saints shares what inspired her to write her poem and why it was important to get involved in the campaign:

"I wrote this poem because I want to point out that plastic waste is one of the major climate issues that we need to put a stop to.

"We might throw away an old plastic bag because we don't need it anymore and just think, 'oh that doesn't matter, because my plastic bag won't make a difference' but it really will. We don't consider what may happen to it. The Eyes of the World campaign is really important because it's about our future. We can see what's happening, we're not oblivious to it- we can see that the world is being destroyed."

Another pupil added: "As young people, it's really important that we get to share our thoughts and opinions on what is happening in the world. We're not adults yet, so we don't always get the chance to have our voices heard on matters like climate change- so it's great that our school and CAFOD have given us this opportunity."

The 'Eyes of the World' banner first made an appearance on the opening day of the G7 summit in Cornwall in June. Accompanied by a massive art installation, created by pupils from St Mary's primary school in Falmouth, over 14,000 young people have now joined CAFOD's campaign, urging world leaders to take action on issues like the climate crisis.

Over the next four weeks, the banner will travel to the remaining landmarks across the UK: Gateshead and Edinburgh - reaching its final destination in Glasgow at 'COP26' in November.

Liam Page, Chaplaincy Coordinator at All Saints Roman Catholic School said: "The students have taken part in the Eyes of the World campaign to put some positive pressure on world and UK leaders meeting at COP26 next month- and show their concern for our climate and the future of our world.

"The students have been the drivers of this campaign, and have been really passionate about making a positive change in the world for other people and themselves."

CAFOD, which has coordinated the journey of the banner, hopes that over the coming months, thousands more young people will get involved in the 'Eyes of the World' campaign.

Carol Cross, CAFOD's representative in the York region, concluded: "We would like to say a huge thank you to the pupils of All Saints Roman Catholic School and to every young person who has already taken part in the 'Eyes of the World' campaign - your actions will make a huge difference to those living with poverty and injustice.

"We know that young people really care about reaching out to people around the world. They are the ones demanding change and we need to give them a stage to raise their voices. In the run-up to COP26, I hope that the UK government does listen to the voices of young people and the Catholic community and takes seriously their duty to look out for global communities already impacted by the climate emergency."

Year 8 pupil Sophie was interviewed by BBC Radio York about her poem. Click here to listen: www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p09vxhpt