SO what do 18-year-old school leavers do in that long summer break before their first taste of university in October?

Laze on a beach? Recover from their A levels? Maybe get a summer job?

Or represent the young people of Britain at the World Conference on Climate Change in Bonn?

That last one is just what Barnoldswick's Shaun Nixon did this summer, and it was an experience he'll never forget.

Shaun, of Taylor Street, was the voice of the UK among 30 youth delegates from around the world to attend the conference.

He and a delegate from the Gambia, Fatoumatta Ndure, were chosen to deliver a speech on the opening day of the conference, addressing all the world leaders, United Nations delegates and their VIP guests.

They left them in no doubt that the young people had a firm grasp of the many complex issues surrounding world climate change, and strong ideas about the way forward to a better future.

Shaun first represented the UK at the first World Conference on Climate Change, held in The Hague last year. It was there that he and 117 other youth delegates from 61 countries founded the World Youth Organisation on Climate Change. It aims to raise youth awareness of climate change through education and outreach, by working locally within a united global network.

When Shaun learnt the British Government wasn't sending any youth delegates to the 2001 Resumed World Conference on Climate Change, he wrote a letter to Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, demanding to know why not? The ball was thrown back into his court when he was asked to go to Bonn at just two days' notice.

He had even less notice when he was asked by conference president to speak on behalf of the youth delegates at the opening ceremony.

"We were only asked the day before the ceremony and we were up until 4.30am writing the speech, but it was well worth it.

"We showed them that we knew exactly what we were talking about and told them our expectations for the future," said Shaun.

"There was a good response to the speech, with lots of congratulations and support from the delegates. I think the young people earned the respect of the world leaders attending the conference, much more so than at The Hague."

The speech, delivered by Shaun and Fatoumatta, gave the youth delegates' views on the four complex issues covered by the main conference, and urged the delegates to make real progress.

A short extract reads: "Ultimately, we look forward to the day when respect for the environment and the need to develop sustainable ways of life become more important than the short-term, out of date principles that got us into this mess.

"We would like to see that day go down in the history books as being in July 2001, and there is only one group of people who can make that all-important decision..." The group they referred to was the senior delegates attending the conference.

You can read the full text of the speech, and see pictures of Shaun and Fatoumatta delivering it, at the World Youth Organisation on Climate Change's website, designed and managed by - you guessed it - Shaun Nixon.

The website address is www.youthclimatechange.net

Thankfully it wasn't all work and no play for the youth delegates. During the week-long conference there was time for a cruise on the Rhine, a visit to a theme park, and making friends with other delegates from around the world.

Now that he's back home, you might think Shaun would put his feet up and wait for his A Level results from Ermysted's Grammar School, Skipton. He needs three A grades to take up an offer of a place at Cambridge to study geography, and he's quietly optimistic.

But no, Shaun's off to London for a fortnight's work experience, first in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office then a week at the Department of the Environment, Farming and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). He is being supported by Barnoldswick and Earby Rotary Club which has agreed to pay a contribution towards his expenses.

You haven't heard the last of this young man.