Two Preston Lodge High School pupils have won top prize at a national event looking to champion solutions to the sustainability challenges faced in modern society.

S6 pupils Emmy Dalgity and Naomi McGregor took part in Fuel Change Live! at Dynamic Earth on Wednesday, November 2, as teams were tasked with creating a TikTok video to spread awareness.

Fuel Change Live! was supported by Scottish Water and brought together schools, educators and businesses to engage the next generation on driving a positive transition to net zero through skills development.

The girls formed a team with pupils from Falkirk High School and Stranraer Academy, claiming the top prize for their entry that asked “what is the value of water and why is water worth saving?”

Education Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville MSP was in attendance at the event and praised the students from across the country for being at the forefront of climate education.

She said: “Scotland has some of the world’s most ambitious climate change targets and was one of the first nations to embed sustainability education as an entitlement for all learners.

“It’s great to see the creativity of our children and young people as they consider real-life sustainability challenges.

“It will require a collective effort to reach net zero by 2045 and I am grateful to Fuel Change for their ongoing work on climate education.”

During the one-day event, more than 50 pupils from across Scotland were tasked with coming up with a bespoke solution to a real-life sustainability challenge set by Scottish Water on responsible use of natural resources.

S5 and S6 students collaborated in teams to research the issue, come up with a creative solution, and present their ideas to Scottish Water and representatives from the business and skills community via a short film.

Jennifer Tempany, chief operating officer at Fuel Change, added: “We are delighted to have welcomed the Cabinet Secretary to the event to kick off the challenge, set by Scottish Water, on sustainable use of Scotland’s natural resources.

“Fuel Change Live! is a brilliant showcase of our pioneering Challenge programme, which aims to empower the next generation to change the world for the better, and invest in the skills that will be key assets for prospective future employers.

“To have almost 30 schools from across Scotland participate in Fuel Change Live makes these schools real trailblazers in climate education.”