Young journalists flank UK Energy Minister Ed Miliband

7 December 2009: Plan young journalists have pressed the UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Energy Minister Ed Miliband to take urgent action at this week’s United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, during a special youth ‘Question Time’ event in London.

80 young people – including Plan UK young journalists Aakash, 15, and Annie, 15 – quizzed the politicians on their plans to tackle climate change and secured a commitment to include young people as advisors to the Department for Energy and Climate Change.

Watch video of the young journalists interviewing Ed Miliband and his response to the ’60 seconds to save the world’ challenge.

Heading to Copenhagen

Ed Miliband also agreed to another interview with Aakash and Annie when they attend the second week of the Climate Change Conference as part of a group of Plan-supported young journalists from Indonesia, Kenya, Netherlands, Sweden and the UK.

All of the young journalists have been trained by Plan in media skills and will be attending press conferences, interviewing key delegates and sharing their accounts via daily blogs from Copenhagen.

Ambitious targets

Annie questioning UK Energy Minister Ed Miliband

Talking to The Times newspaper in the UK, Annie says she wants to interview as many politicians and protestors as she can at the conference: "I want to ask whether, if a solid deal isn't made in Copenhagen, they will feel guilty for not doing enough to help their children, their nieces and nephews. They should feel guilty. I think it's better to set ambitious targets than none at all."

The right for children to participate in decisions that affect them is enshrined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, and increasingly children are demanding that their voices are heard through radio, television and film.

Find out more about the young journalists and their work at the Copenhagen conference.

Learn about Plan's global work on child participation and emergencies.