ISZL Showcases Student-Led Sustainability at Zurich Climate Week

ISZL Partners with Zurich Climate Week to Showcase Student-Led Sustainability

Students present a project to a seated audience, with a large projected image displayed across the curved wall behind them.

ISZL was proud to serve as the only secondary school academic partner of the inaugural Zurich Climate Week from 4–9 May 2026, reinforcing our commitment to sustainability education and student-led action through the work of our High School Sustainability Lead, Dr. Zoe Badcock.

Representing ISZL at the opening ceremony held at the iconic Zurich Opera House, our High School Principal and Assistant Principal joined educators, researchers, and thought leaders from across Switzerland to hear from renowned climate scientist Johan Rockström. His message was clear and urgent: seven of the nine planetary boundaries have now been crossed, highlighting the scale of the climate and biodiversity crisis facing our world.

As part of Zurich Climate Week, three Grade 10 students brought their learning to life by adapting their Youth Forum Switzerland Impact Lab, Avalanche Safety: A Crash Course, and presenting it to members of the public at ETH Zurich.

The workshop explored how climate change is increasing risks in alpine environments and encouraged participants to think critically about mountain safety and responsible decision-making while skiing. Through interactive and gamified activities, the students created a highly engaging experience that invited participants to actively explore the topic together while learning about avalanche safety best practice.

Three students stand beside a laptop presenting an interactive visual project on a large curved screen in a modern presentation space.

Reflecting on the experience, one students shared how meaningful it was to present their work to a wider audience beyond the ISZL community and at such a large scale.

Another reflected on the experience of sharing their learning in a prestigious academic setting.

I’m grateful to go to a school that enables me to present our work at such an esteemed institution.

A third student spoke about the impact of connecting with the public through the workshop.

It was amazing to inspire a genuine interest in avalanche safety among people outside of our school community.

By bringing a Youth Forum Switzerland Impact Lab to Zurich Climate Week, students demonstrated how ideas developed within our ISZL community can evolve into genuinely important contributions to wider conversations around sustainability. We are proud of our students for sharing their knowledge and contributing thoughtfully to these discussions.