Note: this article was co-written by Jacqueline Zweers
Monday, 7th July 2025: while the world scrolls through headlines of heat-waves and floods, students at Lycée Aline Mayerisch stood for climate courage, shared learning, and joyful mobilization.
At Lycée Aline Mayrisch, in the heart of Luxembourg City, Youth4Planet joined forces with Climate Youth Delegates + students & educators for Climate Campusfest. We gave the students a voice by listening to them, what they want to be changed in our world . . . related to the climate change. One student said that climate change, its forces, causes and effects on us have to be subjects taught at school. A lot of re-thinking and creating fit-for-purpose mindsets are urgently needed in our society here in Luxembourg. A country which already reached its Overshoot day on the 17th of February 2025 . . . sadly, the second fastest country consuming resources per capita.
Our table invited Youth to talk & think about United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. While a vocal minority still dismiss youth voices as naïve, we witnessed bold answers to hard questions . . . including:
- “What’s your message for COP30?”
- “How did you first learn about climate change?”
- “What kind of future do you believe in?”
None of this would have happened without Jacqueline, our Youth4Planet intern . . . who didn’t just help co-operate the table. She co-piloted the event with grace, grit, and graphic magic. Jacqueline saw it as her call-of-duty to curate visual potential . . . pictures of how Luxembourg City could . . . and also should look like. Representing Youth4Planet’s CreatiVelo team, Jacqueline worked with the Climate Youth Delegates to achieve thoughtful discussions . . . repeatedly asking students to reflect upon:
- What do we love enough in Luxembourg to show up and fight for?
- Which parts of Luxembourg do we want to change to implement more green public places?
From kids writing postcards to the UN . . . to animated visions of Luxembourg’s Philharmonie reborn in green . . . to spontaneous conversations sparked by a solar-energized Bicycle: we saw the seeds of Decency take root.
Needed . . . because in too many places, performative “debates” whether climate literacy belongs in schools still continues. In too many places, highly polluting industrials lobby against confidence in off-the-shelf proven solutions.
Youth4Planet offers a total different headline: “Educated & empowered, Luxembourg’s youth rolling forward”
May today be one of many, many, many days where we move from climate despair to climate dialogue. From fear to actual positive change. From passive consumption to participatory creation. With deep thanks to every youth voice, educator, and dreamer who made today possible.
