Climate group calls out for young members

THE Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action, or DEECA, is looking for young people aged between eighteen and twenty-five to join their Regional Climate Adaptation Group.

Established in 2019, the Central Highlands group helps steer the Grampians Region Climate Adaptation Strategy in partnership with a Wimmera section, and co-chair La Verne Lehmann said there’s “a bit of a gap” in their demographic.

“Our group’s made up of people who work in different areas like local government, public health, people with a lot of experience,” she said.

“That’s great but we’ve recognised a lack of younger demographic being involved in looking at how we actually implement this.

“It’s one thing to have a strategy but we need to look at how it’ll affect people their age as well.

“The strategy focuses on different aspects of our community and how we can adapt areas affected by climate change like housing, the economy, education, social and health issues.”

Members will be expected to participate in monthly meetings to discuss the implementation of the strategy.

Expressions of interest are open until Tuesday, 7 February and can be submitted via the Adapt Grampians website.

Ms Lehmann said it’s important that younger people have a voice in the RCAG’s direction.

“They’re the ones who’ll still be around 50 plus years later, so talking to young people and getting them to have a say on this is essential,” she said.

“We can’t change global issues but we can certainly highlight what we’re hearing from young people and the potential projects that could help with climate adaptation.

“Young people are a powerful voice and they have an important role. We don’t want to prescribe what they’ll do. It’ll be driven by their needs and what they want to do.”