Senior pupils from all the area’s secondary schools are manning the Climate Emergency Newsroom (CEN), an online reporting service aimed at school children throughout the two-week conference which is being attended in Glasgow by world leaders.

The unique reporting service, being operated in partnership between South Lanarkshire Council and the University of Glasgow, is delivering headlines, news, interviews and photographs on a rolling basis every day.

Michael Wilkie, Head of English at Calderside Academy, put together the project and said he was hugely impressed by the enthusiasm of the 6th Year pupils involved.

He said: “The idea was to get these young minds really focussed on the far-reaching implications of COP26 and the big decisions that will be made there. By creating a newsroom we are encouraging the pupils to really question what is happening, and not to be afraid to hold those involved accountable.

“The main audience for the young journalists’ output is primary school pupils, so we are also encouraging even younger people to think about Cop26 and what it means for all our futures.”

The CEN is being hosted at the University of Glasgow and Dr Andrew Judge, Deputy Head of Politics and International Relations, will be briefing each group of young journalists on the aims and ambitions of COP26.

Around 80 pupils are involved in total, from secondary schools across South Lanarkshire. They have been split into two groups, each working one of the two weeks of COP26. As well as news-gathering reporters, a number have been appointed as sub-editors, social media managers and editors-in-chief – one of whom is in overall editorial charge each day.

As part of the process, the teams all meet each day to discuss story ideas, review the daily schedule and assign tasks. Each day a small group is also being escorted into the Cop26 campus itself, where they are accredited to carry out interviews and attend media conferences.

Articles and photos are then being filed to be subbed, proof read and signed off for publication, which is being done on a dedicated blog site.

Chair of the council’s Education Resources Committee, Councillor Katy Loudon said: “Our schools and teachers are always striving for new and interesting ways to engage our pupils and I am delighted that Michael and colleagues have created this fantastic opportunity for pupils across South Lanarkshire to get involved with COP26.

“Any of us who engage regularly with young people know many of them are really aware of, and concerned by, the climate crisis and it is important that their voices are heard at this vital time.”

You can visit the blog to find out what the aspiring young journalists have been up to and also follow them on Twitter.