YOUNG climate activists were brought together for Zurich’s first Youth Against Carbon Conference.

The panellists called on the government to keep climate on the national agenda and for it not to be derailed by Covid 19.

Energy minister Kwasi Kwarteng took part in the event. He said: “Tackling climate change is a huge opportunity for young people to get involved in one of the greatest struggles. There’s a long way to go but a growing appreciation of the problem and urgency in tackling it.”

Mikaela Loach is an Edinburgh medical student and climate justice activist who has a large following on Instagram for her campaigning work.

She spent time in the rain camping outside the offices of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy last year to protest about the collusion of the government with the fossil fuel industry.

She said: “Three out of nine of the people on the climate change committee have investments in the fossil fuel industry. If you are investing in the fossil fuel industry, which is destroying the planet, how are you going to be able to put people before profit?”

Mya-Rose Craig, 18, a naturalist, ornithologist and conservationist, has just returned from an expedition to the Arctic Circle with Greenpeace to investigate climate change. She is also founder of Black2Nature, which seeks to make nature more accessible to ethnic minority groups.

She said: “Diversity is a real issue in a lot of western countries, including the UK. The environmental movement is very homogeneous, very white, very middle class. It is not sustainable as you are only hearing from a small group of people.”

Event organiser, Zurich’s head of sustainability Laura McAlpine, said: “Through YAC Con we wanted to offer an opportunity for young eco-campaigners to get their opinions and ideas heard. As an insurer we see first hand the devastating effects of climate change, both here in the UK and globally, on our customers and communities.

“We take our role in mitigating the risks very seriously and believe we can bring about real change by fuelling the passion and drive of these amazing young people.”