Background
What is climate change?
Climate change means to long-term changes in temperatures and weather. Not just a chilly winter or a one hot summer, but years of extreme cold and hot. This is dangerous to people, animals, and nature.
A very small amount of climate change is natural, but humans have sped up climate change a lot, reaching temperatures that would not have happened without human activity. This has mainly been because we have burned so many fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas. The Earth is now around 1.2°C warmer than it was in the 1800s, and warmer than any time in the last 800,000 years. 2025 was the hottest year on record. Scientists say we must keep the temperature rise under 1.5°C to keep the planet safe.
But don't panic! It's not all bad news...
We can achieve the 1.5 °C goal
140 countries including the UK have already promised to reach net-zero by 2050. This means they will aim to remove more greenhouse gases than they create. Find out more about the Paris Agreement.
Net-zero can be achieved by things like:
improving transport, farming, and energy
protecting forests and woods
thinking carefully about the materials we use
In July 2019, Surrey County Council declared a climate emergency. They have written a Climate Change Strategy that will help to make Surrey:
- a carbon neutral council by 2030
- a carbon neutral county by 2050
Surrey's Climate Change Strategy
We must all act
Governments and councils can do a lot to help. So can big companies and businesses. But we must all help to reduce our impact on the environment. Not only that, taking action can also save you money, improve your home, and have benefits for your physical and mental health! Climate Change can sometimes feel overwhelming, but small changes can make a big difference.
Surrey Youth Council have written a Youth Climate Change Strategy to share with young people and schools. It has lots of suggestions on how you, your families, and your schools can all make a difference.
Watch the Earth Day video below from Surrey Youth Council, then explore the strategy to find out more!
About us
The Surrey Youth Council is a group of dedicated 11- to 25-year-olds who represent the views of young people of Surrey at a local and national level. We have seven elected Members of Youth Parliament a Young Mayor team, and Portfolio Holders who take our ideas to elected leaders.
Young people highlighted Climate Change as a top priority in both the 2024 Make Your Mark vote, and the 2025 Our Voice Matters survey. We listened.
Foreword
Scientists across the world study how our planet is changing, and what we can all do to look after it. They have told us that we must limit the rise of global temperatures to 1.5°C, in order to keep people safe and healthy, with enough clean water, food, and safe temperatures for all.
Young people care deeply about the world around them, and the future it will provide for them. Whilst it might seem like a big issue for young people to tackle, we must take the initiative to show adults and world leaders that we want a healthier, more sustainable environment. After all, we will be the ones living in the world that is being shaped right now. What that looks like is for us to decide.
The actions needed for environmental change also have other benefits. Active travel and preserving nature can help us to build habits that improve our physical and mental health; clean energy can save us money on bills and make us less reliant on oil and gas from abroad; and taking care of our water and food supplies can make the world a fairer place.
By working together, we can create real change and move towards a Surrey, and world, that is healthier and fairer for everyone.
- Shirley, Surrey Youth Cabinet Member for the Environment
Introduction
People in Surrey overwhelmingly care about climate action. Almost 70% of residents say it’s very important, while only a tiny 5% think it’s not important. This is great news, as in July 2019, Surrey County Council declared a climate emergency, and we need everyone’s help to take on this challenge. The council wants Surrey to be a carbon neutral county by 2050, and we would urge the new East and West Surrey councils to take up these goals from 2027.
Carbon neutral
- Balancing the amount of carbon we put into the atmosphere by taking the same amount back out
Net-zero
- Reducing the emission of greenhouse gases, ideally to 0 one day
This Youth Climate Change Strategy aims to empower young people to take individual and collective action to:
- Protect the environment
- Reduce living costs
- Improve the quality of life and housing
- Create a healthier society
- Will you join us on our journey to net-zero?
Emissions
- Things being released into the atmosphere, like carbon and other gases that create global warming
Youth targets
- Commit to 3 permanent behaviour changes by 2030
- Surrey Youth Council to reduce their carbon footprint by 2027
What can young people do?
- Turn down the heating and put on a jumper or blanket – this saves money too!
- Check your carbon footprint on this Carbon Emissions calculator, and learn how to lower it
- Encourage your school to become an Eco or Green Flag School – Surrey has been top of the league for the last three years!
- Ask your parents/carers/school to improve the building’s energy efficiency if possible - e.g. insulation, heat pumps, double glazing, etc. There are grants for schools and homes available!
What can the council do?
- Work to increase the number of Eco Schools from 175 to 250, and Green Flag Schools from 101 to 150 by 2030
- Offer incentives for young people to make changes at home and at school
- Decarbonise Surrey schools by supporting funding for solar panels and renewable heat sources
Transport
Youth targets
- Increase use of sustainable travel methods by 25% by 2030
- Increase the number of School Streets from 1 to 10 by 2030
What can young people do?
- Swap 1 in every 4 car journeys for public or active transport - walking, cycling, bus, train, etc.
- Use the Better Points app to be rewarded for active travel
- Get a LINK card for cheaper bus travel
- Introduce a cycle or walk to school club, or arrange to car share with friends
- Run a social media campaign promoting active travel
- Ask your school to apply for a School Street, to cut air pollution and safety risks outside school, and for free cycle and walking training
What can the council do?
- Financial support for greener transport: widening the Link card scheme, financial support for bikes, etc.
- Invest in initiatives and infrastructure to increase walking, cycling and public transport, and reduce car reliance; such as incentives, School Streets, pedestrianisation, and more bus stops
Energy
Off-peak hours
- When fewer people are using electricity (e.g. overnight), when there’s less demand and it’s cheaper to use
Youth target
- Commit to 3 permanent behaviour changes by 2030
What can young people do?
- Turn off lights and appliances when not in use, and use energy efficient light bulbs
- Get a smart meter and monitor energy use - reduce the use of inefficient appliances and save money!
- Run appliances like washing machines and dishwashers during ‘off-peak’ hours when there is more electricity available
- Ask your parents/carers to get a free home energy survey from the Home Energy Advice Team. They might be entitled to free upgrades through the Warm Homes Local Grant
- Ask your parents/carers/school to use a green energy supplier and consider solar panels (see the Warm Homes Local Grant for details) and switch to a green energy supplier
What can the council do?
- Financial support for schools and colleges to use renewable energy, and improve insulation and heating systems
- Incentives to encourage young people and schools to reduce their energy usage
Housing
Biodiversity
- The variety of plants and animals in an area
Youth targets
- Attend the annual Surrey Development Forum to share youth priorities
- One day be able to live in homes that reduce emissions, have lower running costs and improve community wellbeing
What can young people do?
- Support wildlife in your garden by putting up a bird box or make a pot pond. If you don’t have a garden, try a window box!
- Encourage the council to build affordable, energy-efficient homes near to sustainable transport, and support local biodiversity
- Lobby construction companies to build energy-efficient homes
- Encourage the council to build more social housing
What can the council do?
- Involve young people in conversations about their future homes and workplaces
- Careful planning and development to provide environmentally friendly affordable homes for young people’s futures
Waste
Fast fashion
- Cheaply-made, low-quality clothes that don’t last and need replacing often
Youth targets
- Reduce food waste by at least 50% by 2030
- Increase reusing or recycling packaging by at least 75% by 2030
- Develop heritage skills to repair damaged items
What can young people do?
- Shop and eat carefully to reduce food waste, get a compost bin if you have a garden
- Shop sustainably, avoiding fast fashion when possible
- Learn to sew to fix clothes or buy second-hand
- Run a social media campaign to raise awareness
- Reuse, recycle or compost all waste that you can
- Turn off taps when not in use and have short showers
- Visit a repair café and learn how to fix objects
What can the council do?
- Encourage development of heritage skills so that young people can live sustainably
- Provide incentives to reduce waste and make schools and homes more sustainable
Land and food
Youth targets
- Eat more sustainably
- Plant our own trees, as part of Surrey’s plan to plant a tree for every resident by 2030
- Protect and promote green spaces and woodland
What can young people do?
- Reduce how much meat you eat, having some meat-free days
- Eat more locally-produced and seasonal food, and check for eco labels on packaging
- Set up a school gardening club
- Grow your own vegetables
- Promote biodiversity at school and home by growing wildflowers or lavender. More plants, less concrete!
- Encourage nature recovery and the protection of green spaces and woods
- Plant a tree
What can the council do?
- Provide food education and incentives such as competitions or prizes for residents and schools to grow their own food and buy local, seasonal food
- Include young people in environmental projects such as tree planting
Green skills
- The knowledge, attitude, and skills needed to live in an eco-friendly society
- Technical skills, e.g. engineering or science
- ‘soft’ skills, e.g. creativity and adaptability
Youth targets
- Develop green skills to prepare for future jobs
- Promote green skills and services
- Collaborate with partners on projects
What can young people do?
- Learn about the environment and ways to protect it
- Develop technical and/or ‘soft’ green skills for green careers, e.g. through a Skills Bootcamp
- Do work experience or volunteer with a ‘green’ organisation - check out our webpage for more info!
What can the council do?
- Develop green skills in young people, through workshops, courses, or through the school curriculum, and offer green apprenticeships
- Offer opportunities to gain work experience in this area
Call to action
Time is running out, but our goals are still 100% possible.
Young people need to come together to protect our future. We hope to inspire others and lead the way, supported by the Council.
Will you join us?
Email your pledge to us, or invite us to visit and celebrate your projects: youthcabinet@surreycc.gov.uk
Acknowledgments
The Surrey Youth Climate Change Strategy was coproduced and driven by the Surrey Youth Council. I want to thank the whole Youth Council, and especially the Youth Cabinet of 2024-2026 for their work. Their passion for protecting the beautiful county of Surrey and the world beyond drove this project alongside other environmental projects and campaigns.
- Cammie Evans, Participation Lead for Surrey Youth Council and Cabinet
Our partners
We are delighted to have the endorsement of the following organisations:
- Surrey Nature Partnership
- Zero Carbon Guildford
- Surrey Hills National Landscape
- Keep Britain Tidy
- Eco Schools
- Butterfly Conversation
Contact us
Email us on youthcabinet@surreycc.gov.uk to:
- Receive a paper copy of the Surrey Youth Climate Change Strategy
- Share your feedback and projects
- Invite us to celebrate your work
- Find out more about Surrey Youth Council