‘Youth appeal’ on Mountain Day 2, UNFCCC COP18. Doha.

On the sidelines to UNFCCC COP18/CMP8 International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) and partner organizations organized one day event- Mountain Day2, at Intercontinental Hotel, Doha, on 3^rd December, 2012. Purpose of organizing The Mountain Day2 was to build consensus and develop a common position among mountain stakeholders regarding mountain-specific climate change issues and solutions. By sending out a strong message to negotiators and policy makers, it aims to ensure that mountains become a priority agenda in the global climate discourse.

The Mountain Day2 programme comprised of high level sessions, plenary discussion sessions and in parallel the Knowledge Café session, and in the end released key messages for COP18 negotiators. Mountain Day2 was attended by more then hundred delegates comprised of representatives from government officials, academia, civil society, youth and other mountain stakeholders.

In the Knowledge Café session, which was moderated by Anja Moller Rasmussen, Programme Manager of Integrated Knowledge Management at ICIMOD, three groups (comprised of 7-8 participants) were formed who discussed and presented key messages. Each of these groups was chaired by ‘ICIMOD Youth Ambassadors for COP18’, namely Ms Sameera Zaib (APYTF- Pakistan), Ms Timila Dhakhwa (Green Economy Team- Nepal), and Ms May Zin Thaw (Youth Informed- Myanmar). By the end of session, based on the ‘Knowledge Cafésession’ key messages, ‘Global Youth Appeal for COP18’ and ‘Asia Pacific Youth Declaration on Green Economy’ the ‘Youth Appeal’ was developed. The ‘Youth Appeal’ was presented by Ms Sameera Zaib (APYTF) in the Ministerial/Policy Makers’ Roundtable Panel Discussion

Anja Moller Rasmussen, moderating Knowledge Cafe session.

May Zin Thaw, presenting Knowledge Cafe session key messages.

Sameera Zaib, chairing Knowledge Cafe session- group discussion.

Following is the full text of ‘Youth Appeal'.

Youth Appeal is based on “Global Youth Appeal for COP18”, “Asia Pacific Youth Declaration on Green Economy” and “Knowledge café” session. Youth Appeal states that;

In the international policy process youth participation is very limited as they do not have access to resources, media, and forums due to financial constraints, limited knowledge, and connectivity. There is a dire need to provide them opportunities, platforms, resources, empowerment and legal status in every field so they can reach decision makers and their voice become part of policy document.

We urge you to make the mountain ecosystems agenda a global agenda by involving stakeholders from all mountain regions- Andes, Alps, Rockies, Himalayas and make a strong narrative that connects the highlands and lowlands globally.

We must reach the most marginalized communities without language barriers for networking and mentoring on environmental sustainability issues. 

Sameera Zaib, presenting Youth Appeal in Ministerial/Policy Makers’ Roundtable Panel Discussion.