Monmouth Pupils Inspire Global Action at COP30

Haberdashers’ Monmouth School and Monmouth Comprehensive students joined Indigenous leaders live from Brazil at COP30, spotlighting Welsh leadership in sustainability and youth-driven action to end deforestation.

In a moment that united generations, communities and continents, pupils from Haberdashers’ Monmouth School and Monmouth Comprehensive School took centre stage at the United Nations COP30 Summit in Brazil. Broadcasting from Monmouth, the young changemakers joined a global audience to share how the students, supported by their schools, Size of Wales and the Welsh Government – are helping to build a deforestation-free future.

The event, “From Forest Roots to Global Action: Grassroots and Youth Alliances for a Deforestation-Free Future,” brought together Indigenous forest guardians from the Amazon and Atlantic Forest with pupils from across Monmouthshire, and the political leaders that they have so powerfully moved to action.. The emotional livestream celebrated solidarity and action – from the rainforests of Brazil to classrooms in Wales.

Indigenous Voices, Shared Struggles

Streaming live from Brazil, Indigenous leaders from the Wampís and Avá-Guaraní Nations shared powerful testimonies of the struggles their communities face as deforestation, soy production and pesticide use devastate their lands and livelihoods.

“Every day we consume poison,” one Indigenous woman said, describing how pesticide pollution is destroying ancestral crops and causing illness across generations. “Our struggle is greater than agribusiness. It’s about our right to land, our way of life – our very survival.”

Speakers called on the UK Government to hold corporations accountable for deforestation-linked supply chains. They also thanked Welsh partners for supporting solar boat projects that help Indigenous communities travel sustainably across their territories – saving both money and the environment.

Global Recognition and Future Opportunity

The pupils’ presentation received applause across the UK Pavilion at COP30 venues and online, earning recognition from UK and Welsh officials. Moments later, news arrived that Katie White OBE MP, the UK Climate Change Minister, attending COP30 in Brazil, had invited the Monmouth students to present their work at the UK Parliament – a testament to the power of their message.

After the event, the students spoke of pride, empowerment and a renewed sense of duty:

It felt amazing! I realised what a great opportunity it was to get the message out there.

Dan

If people take it on board, then we can really make a big change.

Neo

It’s amazing that we’re part of something in Brazil – I’m just a kid, but it’s incredible.

Theo

We came together as schools and showed how much we can do. I’m proud of what we’ve achieved – together, we really can make a difference.

Meri

All the students are in either Year 7, 8 or 9 – a remarkable testament to the confidence and compassion nurtured through Wales’s pioneering sustainability education.

As emotion filled both the conference hall in Brazil and the Monmouth livestream room, Barbara Davies Quy, Deputy Director of Size of Wales, highlighted the global significance of the students’ work:

“From Indigenous forest guardians to Monmouthshire classrooms, this is solidarity in action. These young people are proof that local change can spark global impact. Get them around the table – they are the changemakers.”

Reflections and Next Steps

Today our pupils showed the world what young people in Wales are capable of. They spoke with confidence, empathy and conviction on an international stage, contributing to conversations that truly matter. Seeing them join Indigenous leaders at COP30 and be recognised for their ideas was deeply inspiring – a powerful reminder of how education can shape a better future.

Melvyn Roffe MBE, Head of Haberdashers’ Monmouth School, said the event captured the very best of Welsh youth leadership.

We’re all so thrilled for them. Their passion, understanding and drive to make real change have earned them this platform. People can see this really matters to them – and that’s why they’re being heard.

Nichola James, Sustainability Officer for Haberdashers’ Monmouth and Deforestation-Free Communities Campaign Lead for Size of Wales, summed up the emotion of the day.

Six schoolchildren in uniform stand in a row smiling in front of a large screen displaying the text “COP30 Brasil Amazônia Belém 2025.” They are dressed in blazers, shirts, ties, and skirts or trousers.

A group of adults and schoolchildren seated in rows of chairs in a classroom turn to smile at the camera. A man in a suit and a woman stand at the back of the room. The atmosphere appears friendly and informal.

A group of schoolchildren sit in darkened classroom lighting watching a large screen showing a video featuring people in colourful clothing. A laptop sits on a cabinet beneath the screen, and a whiteboard is mounted on the wall to the right.

A mixed group of adults and schoolchildren sit in rows facing a large screen on the right side of the room, watching a presentation. Several framed artworks hang on the walls, and daylight streams through tall windows.

A group of schoolchildren sit in chairs watching a presentation on a large screen just out of frame to the right. Two adults sit behind them. A portrait and framed pictures hang on the wall near a set of double doors.

Five schoolchildren in uniform stand with two adults who are smiling for a group photo in a classroom. A framed portrait hangs on the wall behind them, and a door is visible to the right.

As the livestream closed, the room in Monmouth filled with applause. What began as a local project on deforestation-free food and ethical supply chains had become something much bigger – a shared call for justice, hope and collective action.

Watch the student’s video here.