Haberdashers’ Monmouth School students set for Westminster as climate leadership gains national spotlight.
Three Haberdashers’ Monmouth School students will travel to the House of Commons on Wednesday 11 March 2026 to present their pioneering climate action work to UK Minister for Climate, Katie White MP. Their invitation follows their high‑impact contribution to COP30, where they helped lead global discussions on creating a deforestation‑free future.
The trio will attend alongside peers from Monmouth Comprehensive School, representing a strong Monmouthshire partnership in youth climate leadership. The visit, coordinated by Size of Wales, includes meetings with senior policymakers, a parliamentary tour, and a joint reflection session with young climate leaders from across Wales.
From Monmouth to COP30 to Westminster
At COP30 in Brazil, the students joined Indigenous leaders and international delegates to present (via video link) “From Forest Roots to Global Action,” highlighting how Welsh pupils are driving deforestation‑free school meals, ethical supply chains and local biodiversity projects. Their presentation gained national attention from UK and Welsh officials, prompting Minister White to invite them to Westminster as an example of youth-led climate action influencing national policy.
Local action, national influence
In Monmouthshire, the students have been central to efforts promoting deforestation‑free school meals—auditing menus, exploring the impact of soy-fed meat on tropical forests, and working with Size of Wales and Monmouthshire County Council to champion practical, sustainable alternatives. Their work has helped shape council commitments and inspire wider action across Wales.
A milestone Westminster programme
The students’ day in Parliament will include:
- Lunch meeting with Catherine Fookes MP
- A formal presentation to Katie White MP
- Meeting with Maggie Charnley, Head of the International Forests Unit
- A parliamentary tour
- A joint student reflection session with pupils from Monmouthshire, Bridgend and Conwy
- Championing Monmouth’s young leaders
Head of Haberdashers’ Monmouth School, Melvyn Roffe MBE, praised the students’ achievement, noting their leadership “on the world stage” and their ability to turn learning into meaningful global influence.
Quotes
Habs Monmouth Sustainability Student: “Speaking at COP30 made me realise that even from a small town like Monmouth, our voices can reach people across the world. Now we’re taking that same message to Westminster. We’ve seen how small choices, like what goes on our school menus, can protect forests thousands of miles away. If young people can start that change, imagine what we can do when the whole country gets involved.”
Nicky James, Sustainability Lead, Size of Wales: “These students are living proof that climate leadership doesn’t begin in parliaments or global summits – it begins in classrooms, kitchens, and communities. Their work in Monmouthshire shows how young people can turn learning into action and action into influence. From transforming school meals to inspiring policymakers at COP30, they’ve demonstrated that Welsh youth are a driving force in building a deforestation‑free future.”
Melvyn Roffe MBE, Head of Haberdashers’ Monmouth School: “What our students have achieved is genuinely inspiring. They have taken what they’ve learned here in Monmouth and used it to influence conversations happening on the world stage. Their invitation to Westminster shows just how seriously their ideas are being taken. We are incredibly proud of their commitment, their teamwork, and the positive change they’re already helping to create, both locally and far beyond Wales.”
