Ahead of the International Day of Youth 2014, the Commonwealth Youth Climate Change Network organized a Google+ Hangout to discuss youth engagement in the theme ''Youth Participation and Engagement in Climate Policy and the Sustainable Development of Small States'' which focus on the Asia, Africa & Europe (Mon 11 Aug 19:00 GMT+5 - 20:00 GMT+5). The Hangout key speakers include young leaders and climate activists, and representatives of the Commonwealth Secretariat and the Commonwealth Youth Climate Change Network from these regions who addressed the above theme in their different perspectives and views.
The year 2014 marks a significant step in the global climate change agenda before the key turning point of 2015 when the Post MDGs will be agreed by the world leaders under the leadership of the United Nations. From the UN Secretary-General Climate Summit to the 20th UN Climate Conference (COP20) and the Third United Nations Conference on Small Island Developing States, opportunities arise to fully engage young people from the Commonwealth in climate change policy and small states resilience from the local to the global levels.
A number of young people from different regions joined the debate on how the role of young people in the global climate agenda could be enhancing in order to raise the youth voice for further youth empowerment on the issues!
Speakers include:
Mr. Mohamed Husni (Regional Coordinator, Asia)
Mr. Chola Simwanza (CYCN Steering Committee, Africa)
Ms. Sameera Zaib (Environmentalist & Coordinator APYTF, Pakistan, Asia)
Ms. Rachel Dobrić (P3 Foundation, New Zealand, Pacific)
Mr. Layne Robinson (Program Officer, Commonwealth Secretariat)
The Hangout moderated by Mr. Jean Paul Brice Affana (CYCN).
Following is the talk I gave on the theme "Young
volunteers actions to raise awareness about climate change across the
Commonwealth and enhance global policies";
"Young volunteers are organized in
to groups and joined different national and international networks. By
volunteering they build their capacity and get experience and network with
youth and professionals working on the same issues. In this way they learn and by implementing
and sharing experiences, challenges faced and solutions they impart the
knowledge gained within their networks and communities. Today’s free social
media provides opportunities to them to access information and raise their voice.
In Asia there are many small and large groups of volunteers working for raising
awareness about climate change. There are some large networks of volunteers
like APYTF, AYCN, SAYS etc comprised of a number of young volunteers groups.
These networks provide platform for exchanging views and information at
regional level and hence raising youth voices at international level.
By networking with youth and
professionals who are working with different national and international
organizations who have created opportunities for youth to participate in major
regional and international forums are major opportunities for volunteers to come
forward and raise their voice. The young volunteers have passion for their work
that is why they volunteer. Young minds are open to listen, to learn and take
actions for themselves and their communities. They are the one who are most
vulnerable as climate change impacts affect their education, health,
employment, livelihoods etc. They have seen impacts in their lives like floods
in Pakistan, India, China, and associated impacts, like melting of glaciers,
water shortage, food insecurity, sea level rise, etc. if climate change issue
is not addressed it will create worse situation in the near future. It’s a
matter of now or never. Therefore, they are more concerned about the impacts and
take part in awareness rising among communities, mobilizing youth, and reach
out to decision makers. They are trying to do in all their capacities. However, their capacities need to be
developed so they can work as young force for not only raising awareness but
addressing the climate change issue. They are more committed and determined,
however, they need support from national and international community and
organizations to come forward and develop and implement climate resilient
actions in their communities while working with the international community. International
community and organizations must support those youth led organizations,
volunteers and networks.
Youth needs to be engaged on
regular basis, not only when there are big conferences. There needs to be incentives,
earning opportunities and regular mentoring programs for building young
volunteers capacities, so they can make a difference by influencing the
decisions taken at national or international level".
https://plus.google.com/events/cgnv9g24pcg33emcj8pac7phtd0?cfem=1
