When Climate Change Met Teen Spirit – Empowering Youth for a Greener Future
Climate change and its consequences are becoming more evident every day. If we want to shape a more sustainable and just future, we need smart minds who are not only aware of the challenges but also equipped to tackle them. That journey begins with our children and teenagers, who are already learning in school about climate-damaging behaviours and how to avoid them.
Supporting this mission, the European Union funds various initiatives focused on climate education. One of them is the Ecoality Project, which aims to empower young people with the skills and knowledge needed to address climate change and gender justice. As part of this initiative, Südwind Austria organized a School Climate Camp from June 13 to 17, bringing together 20 students for an inspiring and educational experience.
We at the Chair of Waste Processing Technology and Waste Management (AVAW) at Montanuniversität Leoben (MUL) were honoured to contribute to one full day of the program.
A Day with AVAW: From Understanding to Action
After a relaxed Sunday breakfast, the students were divided into four groups of five and introduced to the Climate Fresk – a collaborative workshop tool that visualises the causes and effects of climate change. The theme of the day was “From Head to Heart to Action”.
Through the Climate Fresk, the teenagers explored the science behind climate change and the consequences that await us if we fail to act. This was followed by a reflective session where students, in pairs, processed what they had learned and shared their emotional responses. The goal was to help them connect intellectually and emotionally with the topic – a vital step before taking meaningful action.
We then opened up a group discussion about what everybody of us can contribute to climate solutions. During this exchange, we also introduced our department at MUL and explained how future studies or careers in environmental and energy engineering can play a powerful role in fighting climate change.
Real Solutions in Action: ReSoURCE & MoLIBity
As part of our presentation, we showcased two of our key research projects:
- ReSoURCE
- MoLIBity, a project dedicated to developing efficient recycling processes for lithium-ion batteries from mobility applications. MoLIBity is led within our department by Fr. DI Cornelia Rutkowski.
Looking Ahead
We’re incredibly grateful to have been part of this fantastic Climate Camp experience. It was a real pleasure to engage with such thoughtful, curious, and motivated young people. The day was filled with insightful conversations, shared ideas, and moments of inspiration.
We look forward to possibly welcoming some of the participants to our university in the future – as students, researchers, or changemakers in the fight against climate change.
Authors’ Portrait
Florian Feucht
DI Florian Feucht is research associate at the Chair of Waste Management and Waste Treatment at the Montanuniversität Leoben and part of the Workgroup: “Environmental remediation and mineral waste”. Since 2023, he has been enrolled in the university’s PhD Program. He earned his master’s degree in Applied Geoscience from Montanuniversität Leoben, focusing on the chemical-mineralogical characterization of ladle slag. He completed his bachelor’s degree in Earth Sciences at the University of Vienna, with a thesis on the petrological study of mafic and ultramafic rocks. His research interests include the chemical mineralogical characterization of mineral wastes, mineralogy, slag mineralogy, recycling, and waste management.
Cornelia Rutkowski
DI Cornelia Rutkowski is research associate at the Chair of Waste Management and Waste Treatment at the Montanuniversität Leoben and part of the Workgroup: “Future Waste and Waste Management”. Since 2024, she has been enrolled in the university’s PhD Program. Her research is focusing on the development of a functional recycling process for Lithium-ion traction batteries from mobility applications. She earned her master’s degree in Applied Geoscience from Montanuniversität Leoben, focusing on the mineralogical differentiation of spodumene-bearing pegmatites and its host rocks as foundation for magnetic prospection. She completed her bachelor’s degree in Earth Sciences at the University of Vienna, with a thesis on the kinematic of the Periadriatic Fault System near Villach.
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