The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
We’re focused on climate change
Young filmmakers putting together material to highlight key threats to the environment ahead of COP26 summit
Young filmmakers from Banchory, Inverness and Nairn have been selected to bring the voice of young Scotland to the climate change conference COP26.
Scottish Youth Film Foundation (SYFF) and COP26 principal partner Scottish Power unveiled the team of 12 young filmmakers aged between 16 and 21 who are currently being trained to film, direct, present and produce climate change content.
The videos they create will then be broadcast daily to a global audience at COP TV during the environmental conference which takes place in Glasgow from October 31 to November 12.
SYFF co-founder Scott Mackay, who has been working with the young people this summer, said: “COP TV is a fantastic opportunity for young people to influence the climate change conversation on a global stage – to bring the voice of young Scotland to the world and the world to the young people of Scotland. Working with the team, I am so impressed with the knowledge, passion and enthusiasm they bring to the film-making process. They are a credit to Scotland and will be fantastic young ambassadors to the delegates and climate change influencers we interview and to the global audience watching our daily broadcast.”
The team of filmmakers will be supported by Christie Paterson, an offshore environmental manager with Scottish Power’s parent
company Iberdrola. Based in Scottish Power’s Glasgow HQ, she works with Iberdrola windfarm projects worldwide, advising on how to reduce and monitor potential environmental impacts.
She said: “I think COP TV is a fantastic initiative and it’s been great to meet the team at our windfarm.
There are so many great stories to tell as we journey towards net-zero.”
Banchory Academy pupil Zoe Conroy hopes that COP TV will give her and other young Scots the opportunity to get their voices heard.
Jasmin Robertson added: “I have attended the Friday climate strikes at school and I aim to improve our world throughout all my creative practices.”
Inverness-based Finlay McLennan, who’s also a musician, wants to “inspire other young people to be a part of the fight for climate change through the use of film”.
Dr Sam Gardner, head of climate change and sustainability at Scottish Power, said: “COP26 is arguably the world’s most crucial conference on climate change yet.”