Sixth form students have been researching, and then debating, ways Guernsey can influence the impact of climate change.
Taking place last Thursday, ‘The Great Debate 2026’ saw sixth form students from The Ladies’ College, Elizabeth College and the Sixth Form Centre debate three climate-related motions.
The arguments made were for the purposes of debate and do not necessarily reflect the beliefs of the students or schools.
Motion 1 saw students from the Ladies’ College Upper Sixth and Elizabeth College Lower Sixth debate whether the States should make public transport free to everyone and increase taxes on cars to reduce carbon emissions.
The Ladies’ College team won the debate after successfully arguing that the most effective way to reduce transport emissions in Guernsey is to change behaviour through a combination of incentives and disincentives.
A central pillar of their argument was fairness and accessibility while urgency and scale was also emphasised
Cost and feasibility were central to the Elizabeth College team’s critique.
Motion 2 saw the Upper Sixth Elizabeth College and the Lower Sixth Form Centre debate whether climate change education should be a core, compulsory subject in all island schools.
Elizabeth College won by framing the issue as one of state responsibility, arguing that if climate change will predictably affect safety, the economy and public policy, then the education system has a duty to ensure all students understand it.
They emphasised Guernsey’s vulnerability, pointing to sea-level rise and coastal erosion as local, tangible risks, and set economic preparedness as another major strand with sustainability changing the face of employment opportunities.
The Sixth Form Centre opposition accepted the importance of climate education but argued strongly against making it a standalone compulsory subject.
Motion 3 saw the Upper Sixth team from the Sixth Form Centre argue that all schools should only offer plant-based diets to reduce canteen carbon emissions.
They argued removing meat from school canteens is a simple and effective way to reduce emissions and normalise sustainable choices.
The Lower Sixth team from The Ladies’ College argued against by focusing on health, inclusivity, and proportionality saying that enforcing plant-only meals removes choice and risks excluding students with specific nutritional needs, medical conditions, allergies or eating disorders.
The Sixth Form Centre team won that debate.
The judging panel praised the consistently strong standard across all schools, noting that choosing winners was a difficult one due to the depth of research, clarity of argument and confidence shown throughout the debates, commenting that all teams should be proud of their performance.
The judges then selected Upper Sixth teams from The Ladies’ College and Elizabeth College to contest a final motion, based on the delivery, content and effective use of facts within their earlier debates.
They were tasked with debating whether protesting is more important than making lifestyle changes in combating climate change.
The Upper Sixth Ladies’ College team won after arguing that protest is essential because real power over emissions lies with governments and corporations rather than individual consumers.
They cited Greta Thunberg as an example of how protest can transform awareness and create global political pressure, arguing that protest makes climate change visible, urgent and impossible to ignore.
The Upper Sixth Elizabeth College team had contested that lifestyle changes directly reduce emissions and help build cultural norms that drive broader change.
They claimed that widespread adoption of low-carbon behaviours can significantly reduce emissions and signal demand to markets and policymakers, influencing production and policy over time. They also framed lifestyle change as an expression of personal responsibility, arguing it demonstrates genuine commitment rather than reliance on others to act.
Elizabeth College was the overall winner for 2026 after this final motion.
Karen Marshall, Head of Science, Head of Chemistry, Science Pioneers Pathway Lead, and Teacher of Future Ready Skills at the Ladies’ College said all of the students had performed to a high standard during the debates.
“Debating like this really matters,” she said. “At a time when it can feel as though environmental issues are slipping down the global agenda, it is incredibly powerful to hear young people speaking with such confidence, insight and conviction about the future they are going to inherit.”
Principal of The Ladies’ College, Daniele Harford-Fox, said she’s looking forward to future debates involving students from across the island’s schools.
“Events like the Great Climate Debate don’t just develop skills in argument and critical thinking, they remind us how important it is to listen to young voices and to give them space to challenge, question and influence change. It was also wonderful to see students from across the island coming together to share ideas and perspectives. That sense of collaboration is something we value deeply at The Ladies’ College and I’m very much looking forward to continuing those conversations, including welcoming students from the Sixth Form Centre to contribute to our upcoming TEDx event in a few months’ time.”