With energy towards a good future

What does the energy transition mean for agriculture and rural regions? How can wind power, photovoltaics, biogas or biomass contribute to the energy supply of the future? How are climate change and the energy transition changing our landscapes – and what role can young people themselves play in this process?

Students from agricultural and forestry schools across Austria explored these and many other questions at this year’s Climate Conference for Schools, which took place as part of the “Wissensknoten Klimawandel” (Climate Change Knowledge Hub) project in cooperation with the BMLUK. Under the motto “With Energy Towards a Good Future”, the focus was on renewable energy and actively shaping a climate-resilient future.

From Wind and Sun to Biogas and Biomass

In seven workshops, the young people had the opportunity to explore a range of topics in depth. These included wind power, photovoltaics and energy communities, the production of biogas from residual materials, biomass and regional climate change adaptation.

The programme also offered a perspective beyond Austria’s borders: in one workshop, the young people gained insights into international climate negotiations and the role of young people in the context of the COP.

The Landscape Innovation Lab provided a particularly vivid way of exploring possible future scenarios. Using digital data, 3D visualisations and virtual reality, changes to our landscapes resulting from climate change, the energy transition and land use were made visible and open to discussion.

One of the highlights of the first day of the conference was the joint evening event at BOKU’s Hydraulic Engineering Laboratory on the Danube Canal. This research facility provided a special setting for exploring the connections between water, climate and the environment and for engaging in conversation with one another.

Young People Discuss Their Future

However, the Climate Conference was not just about imparting knowledge. An essential part of the programme was to give young people space for their own questions, experiences and ideas.

What changes would we like to see in the future? Where do conflicting objectives arise? What opportunities for action exist in agriculture and forestry, in our own regions or in our future careers? And what contribution can we make ourselves?

These questions were addressed together on the second day of the conference through interactive formats, in which participants developed and discussed visions of the future.

The feedback on the conference also showed that subject-specific engagement and active participation can be successfully combined. Both the students and the accompanying teachers responded very positively to the two days of the conference.

The varied approaches to the topics, the diverse workshops and the direct contact with experts were particularly appreciated. The opportunity to meet students and teachers from other agricultural and forestry schools and to exchange ideas across school boundaries also contributed to the positive atmosphere.

For teachers, the conference also provided new inspiration for further exploring climate and energy topics in the classroom and throughout the school environment.

Working Together Towards a Good Future

The two days made it clear how closely climate change, energy, agriculture, forestry, landscapes, the economy and society are interconnected. It is particularly important for young people who will work in these fields and help shape future decisions to understand these connections, become familiar with different perspectives and develop their own positions.

The 3rd Climate Conference provided a space for this – for knowledge and discussion, as well as for meeting others, discovering new ideas and reflecting together on the future.

Many thanks to all the students, teachers, speakers, workshop leaders and our cooperation partners who helped shape these two days through their commitment, ideas and active participation.