Catholic schools attend climate forum in Palmerston North

Students and staff from St Peter’s College (Palmerston North), Hato Pāora College and Cullinane College attended the event at the Palmerston North Convention Centre. Nick Wilson, pastoral services director for the Catholic Diocese of Palmerston North, served as master of ceremonies, along with youth leaders.

The forum was student-led, with prominent youth climate action speakers and a student panel. The event, attended by 65 students and staff from 15 schools, aimed to give students greater clarity about the science of climate change, the many ways young adults can mitigate further damage to the environment and to harness the resourceful energies of young people to create communities of resilience that inspire collective action and hope.

Among the topics addressed by speakers were research on the ability of indigenous forests to sequester carbon, sustainability and advocacy for the rights of young people to be heard and taken seriously.

Students were challenged to get involved in environmental programmes dealing with sustainable development in their schools and communities, as well as in local and national government.

Towards the end of the day, Mary Eastham from the Religious Diversity Centre Climate Action Group and the Diocesan Commission for Justice, Peace, Ecology and Development gave each school and the guest speakers the newly launched interfaith climate action resource, E tū te mana o te ao: Building a Climate of Hope – Faith and Action Guide.

The event was hosted on Earth Day, marking 56 years of global environmental action focusing on community-led climate solutions and renewable energy adoption. The 2026 theme centred on “Our Power, Our Planet”, emphasising citizen action, policy change and holding institutions accountable.

FULL STORY

Earth Day Climate Clarity Youth Forum, Palmerston North (By Mary Eastham/Tūmanako/Catholic Diocese of Palmerston North)