In January 2023, Luxembourg’s Tageblatt featured an enlightening article that shines a spotlight on the dedication and determination of the students at Schuman High School in their quest to fight climate change. This initiative, known as the LRSL-Actionteam4future, comes as a natural progression of the Youth4planet Action Team, which was first introduced to the school last summer.

For those who have been following our updates, you may recall our previous blog post about the spirited discussion at Schuman High School. Joined by two ministers (Education and Energy), I had the pleasure of participating in a panel discussion centered around the question: “COP27 – what’s next and what can we do?” The students’ profound insights, courage, and willingness to take matters into their own hands were truly inspiring.

The action team

The student-led LRSL action team began as an idea in a Youth4planet workshop in January 2022. In a short time, the students transformed their lack of knowledge into active engagement, planning events, raising awareness about climate change, and taking concrete actions toward sustainability.

The discussion panel

The team organized a significant discussion panel on February 24, 2022, the same day the Ukraine conflict began. Despite the unfolding crisis, the students decided to move forward, hosting prominent politicians, including Energy Minister Claude Turmes and Education Minister Claude Meisch, as well as researchers and environmental activists. The roundtable’s theme, “Sustainability – COP27 – What Now?” served as the foundation for a robust debate on various aspects of the climate crisis.

Several topics were covered, such as:

• Outcomes from the recent COP27 conference, emphasizing the establishment of a support fund and ongoing climate goals.
• Disappointment with the lack of decisive action and continuous collaboration between nations at COP27.
• The impact of youth activists like Greta Thunberg and the importance of student-led initiatives.

Local actions were also discussed, including the installation of solar panels on school roofs, the work of “Energy Detectives” in schools, and a tax law adjustment in Luxembourg incentivizing investment in renewable energies.

Energy Minister Turmes praised the youth, recognizing the importance of moving away from fossil fuels. He also acknowledged the “Fridays for Future” actions and the essential role of concrete actions in climate education. Education Minister Meisch spoke in favor of integrating sustainable development goals across school curricula and defended students’ rights to protest.

Julien Lemmer, the president of LRSL-Actionteam4future, stood out with his leadership and active role in organizing the team’s activities. From launching a donation drive for Ukraine to initiating various sustainability actions, his efforts represent a growing youth movement within Luxembourg.

The article

The article concludes with perspectives from various stakeholders, reflecting a sense of urgency and a united call to action in Luxembourg.

For those interested in exploring the details, the article’s image will be attached to the blog post. The LRSL-Actionteam4future’s efforts symbolize an encouraging step towards a more sustainable future, showcasing how local actions can lead to broader changes.