Youth Action on Climate Change

Youth Action
Youth Action on Climate Change

On 21 September 2009, UNEP with the support of several partners including UNICEF, UNESCO, FAO, WMO, the Secretariat of the Convention for Biological Diversity (CBD), the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM), the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scout (WAGGGS) and 350 degrees hopes to bring together over one million young people to march across one hundred capitals to deliver to global leaders the Seal the Deal Petition on behalf of the world’s three billion young people.

The Seal the Deal Petition will be developed online and finally agreed to in Daejeon, South Korea at a Global Townhall during the Tunza International Children and Youth Conference. Organized against the backdrop of the world wide campaign on climate change “Seal the Deal”, the petition aims to ensure the voices of youth reach, and hopefully inspire world leaders to sign a definitive climate deal in Copenhagen.
“Seal the Deal” Youth Action Activities:

Children and Youth Conference on Climate Change
17- 25 August - Daejeon, South Korea
The Conference will bring together 1,000 participants comprising 750 children (10 to 14 years) and their chaperones and 250 youth (15 to 24 years). The theme of the conference is Climate Change - Our Challenge and will include two high profile events (A Global Townhall and a Global Debate). The Conference will result in a petition to world leaders and an action plan for promoting individual actions on climate change.

Global Townhall (20 August 2009)
The Global Townhall meeting will include all 1,000 participants of the Conference and virtual participants from over 20 cities around the world connected via webcasting. The Townhall will adopt a petition on climate change for governments and will discuss a rollout plan on the delivery of the petition in over 100 capitals around the world. It will also discuss the action plan for individual actions. The following countries have already confirmed their participation via webcasting in the townhall (Kenya, Sweden, the UK, Switzerland, Mexico and India). It will be organized with the support of the US-based Global Voices.

Global Debate on Climate Change (20 August 2009)
At least three high level political leaders, several business leaders, senior UN dignitaries and young business and political leaders will join the 1,000 participants of the Tunza Conferences to discuss the scenarios that the global community will be faced with in the event of a deal or no deal at the climate change conference in Copenhagen.

UniteforClimate Online Campaign
UniteforClimate is an interactive social networking platform developed by UNICEF in collaboration with UNEP. It provides a platform for young people to learn, interact and share their thoughts about climate change and the action needed to combat global warming.

UniteforClimate encourages young people to interact with scientists and decision-makers to build their capacity and knowledge. Young people will also be encouraged to interact with other young people to discuss the issues they find pertinent to the earth and their own future.

Virtual Climate Wall
A Virtual Climate Wall will allow young people to articulate their concerns on climate change so the world can understand why the next generation feels it is imperative to reach agreement in Copenhagen. This Climate Wall will be projected at UN headquarters during the General Assembly meeting on 22 September.

Global Action Week on Climate Change
20-25 September 2009
Young People from around the world will be invited to join a Global Action Week on Climate Change from 20-25 September 2009. The Action week is being organized in partnership with the world’s leading environmental NGO’s and coincides with the UN General Assembly Summit in New York on 22 September 2009.