Youth4Climate | Connect4Climate

Unpacking the #Youth4Climate Delegates’ Asks for Urgent Climate Action

UPDATE: The #Youth4Climate Manifesto is now officially complete.

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Youth Driving Ambition

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The first theme the young delegates tackled in their working groups was one very close to home for them: Youth Driving Ambition. Their challenge was to find ways to increase youth participation at the local, national and global scales, and they tackled it with a three-pronged approach.

The delegates’ opening request to world leaders was that they work to ensure Meaningful Participation by youth in future climate negotiations, giving young representatives from around the world the chance to voice their lived experiences and ideas and make a real impact on international climate policy.

[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-oXvzixTiw]

Next was a request for Capacity Building support: the provision of financial, administrative, and logistical resources to empower young people at the local level with the means to effectively express themselves on climate issues.

The crucial third component to the delegates’ Youth Driving Ambition proposal was Funding: they urgently requested the allocation of public and private monies to support youth participation in decision-making on climate.

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Sustainable Recovery

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Theme 2 on the young delegates’ docket was Sustainable Recovery: How can we build back from COVID-19 in a way that is sustainable and respectful of our planet’s needs?

At the heart of the team’s proposal here was a bold 2030 target for the global energy transition. Recognizing that the 2050 targets we have seen so far would be inadequate to keep global warming within 1.5 degrees, the delegates made a compelling case for 2030, calling for collaborative research and tech development coupled with a steady rollout of well-paying green jobs to keep economies moving.

Acknowledging that we are already seeing severe climate impacts in vulnerable parts of the world, the young people also called for support in tailoring the implementation of adaptation and resilience measures to marginalized communities in these regions. Equity means working hardest for those most in need.

[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRCS8WrXGgE]

The delegates also demanded that world leaders respect the rights of indigenous communities as well as their deep heritage and expertise, and called for ramped-up development of nature-based solutions in consultation with these groups.

The team went on to call for a “transparent and accountable climate finance system with robust regulation of carbon emissions,” noting the need to support renewable energy with substantial investment and drive development in that direction.

Finally, the youth homed in on the recovering global tourism sector, with a special focus on smaller countries whose economies hinge on tourist activity. The delegates called for the inclusion of youth, women, indigenous peoples and other marginalized groups in a concerted multilateral effort to support these nations in their recoveries while ensuring the brand of tourism they rebuild is sustainable and compatible with a green future.

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Non-State Actors’ Engagement

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Pivoting to Non-State Actors’ Engagement, the youth delegation asked world leaders to improve infrastructure and access to financial mechanisms in developing countries to facilitate the engagement of entrepreneurs, artists, farmers and athletes from underrepresented communities in the push toward sustainability.

The delegates also requested that private-sector companies be held accountable for their carbon emissions via the implementation of a robust reporting-and-assessment system rewarding committed strides toward net zero emissions while penalizing those who take little or no action.

[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHfCJybzw9k]

Doubling down on their demand for the eradication of the fossil fuel industry by 2030, the youth made a compelling case for a decentralized global transition respecting the needs of minority communities in every region of the world while steadily advancing every such region along the road to net zero.

In anticipation of pushback from the fossil fuel industry, the delegates exhorted world leaders, private sector businesspeople and creatives to reject any sponsorships or cash infusions from fossil fuel companies and instead commit themselves fully to going green.

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Climate-Conscious Society

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The final topic up for discussion was Climate-Conscious Society: How can we improve awareness of the climate crisis and give citizens of the world the tools they need to take action?

First off, the delegates stressed that world leaders must continue to create spaces for young people at the highest levels of policy-making and “support the creation of multi-stakeholder platforms and mechanisms for sharing climate information and solutions.”

This segued into a discussion of the vital role of education in driving climate engagement, with the youth delegation urgently requesting targeted financial support for the creation and implementation of climate-conscious curricula around the world. They stressed the need for case-by-case approaches that are respectful and representative of indigenous communities and other marginalized groups and called for the creation of more internships, exchanges and other opportunities in conjunction with empowering lessons in the classroom.

[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_V8cPZyGrFY]

To mobilize members of the general public, the assembled youth leaders suggested the development of a sweeping outreach initiative using “arts, sports, entertainment, community leaders, influencers, and social media” to develop tailored messaging to most effectively ramp up climate engagement in specific regions around the world.

Rounding out the delegates’ presentation was a section on the role of media in shaping the climate narrative. Acknowledging news outlets’ outsized ability to sway public opinion on climate, the youth leaders called for a new international training regimen for journalists focused on harnessing modern platforms to communicate the severity of climate science to a wide audience in a way that’s both accessible and actionable.

Such a program would also serve to prepare journalists for the misinformation around climate they are apt to encounter on the job and equip them to call out greenwashing and inequity where they arise.

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Mapping Out #DrivingAmbition in Milan

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Nearly 400 young climate champions from all over the world are about to flock to Milan for the three days of #Youth4Climate: #DrivingAmbition taking place ahead of Pre-COP26.

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September 28

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<li>#Youth4Climate: #DrivingAmbition kicks off at 10:00 AM Italian time. Youth leaders Vanessa Nakate and Greta Thunberg will be setting the tone with keynote addresses. Look out for coverage on socials!</li>
</ul>

<ul>
<li>After the opening plenary, dedicated working groups will discuss each of the four guiding themes, developing ideas to include in their proposals to world leaders. The youth delegates will spend the rest of the day developing first drafts of their proposals and assessing their progress.</li>
</ul>

<ul>
<li>September 28 is also the <a href="https://www.connect4climate.org/initiative/film4climate-and-drivingambi…; target="_blank">"day of cinema" within the All4Climate calendar</a>. Connect4Climate will accept the Venice Film Festival's Green Drop Award, and Flore Vasseur's documentary "Bigger Than Us" will be screened for the youth delegates with an introduction from its subject, Melati Wijsen. The general public will be invited to enjoy a Film4Climate event at Milan's IULM University, presided over by leading Italian film critic Gianni Canova.</li>
</ul>

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September 29

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<li>Day 2 of #DrivingAmbition will feature a special ministerial event on climate education in which delegates will have the chance to engage with Ministers of Education from around the world to develop novel strategies for bringing climate into classrooms and improving public awareness.</li>
</ul>

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<li>Upon the conclusion of that event at 3:00 PM Italian time, delegates will work together to refine their ideas from Day 1 and commit to final drafts of their theme-specific proposals for world leaders.</li>
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<li>The youth delegates' proposals, aggregated into a unified document, will be formally adopted in a closing plenary at 5:00 PM Italian time.</li>
</ul>

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September 30

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<ul>
<li>The morning of Day 3, following remarks from UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres as well as prime ministers Mario Draghi (Italy) and Boris Johnson (UK), each youth working group will present key elements of its proposal in turn.</li>
</ul>

<ul>
<li>Then, in a concluding plenary moderated by Jayathma Wickramanayake, the UN Secretary-General's Envoy on Youth, ministers will offer their initial thoughts on the youth delegates' ideas and engage them in a dynamic Q&A session. This marks the end of the #DrivingAmbition event!</li>
</ul>

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<li>At 9:00 PM Italian time, an amazing #Music4Climate concert kicks off. Details below!</li>
</ul>

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#Music4Climate Concert

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<li>An unforgettable #Music4Climate concert featuring Rockin'1000, the world's largest rock band, will begin in Milan at 9:00 PM Italian time on September 30.</li>
</ul>

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<li>The event will be globally live-streamed on A-Live in media partnership with Sky, so wherever you are, you can tune in!</li>
</ul>

<ul>
<li>A set of iconic songs in the spirit of climate positivity will be performed by 100 musicians from all over the world rocking out onstage together. Help us transition from #DrivingAmbition to the Pre-COP in style!</li>
</ul>

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Set Your #EyesOnCOP26: The Time for Action is Now!

The Youth Who Took Innovate4Climate 2021 By Storm

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When young people have the chance to take over and communicate the urgency of climate change with their own voices, the results are always str

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Youth Climate Lab Shares Key Insights from I4C Policy Jam

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In our work at Youth Climate Lab (YCL) over the past year, we've heard a number of discussions take place around COVID-19 recovery and youth.

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Takeaways—High-Level

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Both bottom-up and top-down approaches are needed to take action at the scale and scope that we need.
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However, individualization limits the community organization and mobilization that is possible. The focus on personal responsibility and profit must shift towards centring wellbeing, designing systemic interventions, and implementing measures of accountability. 
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Youth must be actively included in decision-making processes to: 

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inform the whole of economy/government/institution strategies;
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prevent the silo-ing of "youth" or "green" policies; and,
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break down barriers to additional youth involvement. 
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Comprehensive climate education, including basic knowledge of climate change, awareness of the social and economic benefits of climate solutions, policy literacy, and opportunities to engage with climate work, policies, and investment are critical. 
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A shift in how individuals and institutions view and value youth, our lived experiences, and our contributions is foundational to achieving anything. 
</li>
</ul>

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Takeaways—Skills

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Barriers*

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Lack of lobbying, climate-work, and networking experience limits youth engagement in community organizations and career development opportunities
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Countries in an economic crisis, bureaucratic roadblocks, corruption, resource-dependent economies, and profit-focused governments can slow progress towards transformative change 
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Systemic bias within financial sector and a mismatch in the understanding of systems, needs, and how they relate to youth slows financial investments in green industries and limits jobs and skill-development opportunities for youth
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</ul>

Solutions

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Lead by example for other members in your community
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Provide individual coaching, apprenticeships, and capacity-building projects and workshops for youth, particularly for sector-specific skills 
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Re-train of institutional decision-makers to improve understanding of interconnected and systemic issues
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Collaboration between youth networks, institutions, and governments to develop synergies (re: reskilling/upskilling) between climate action and sustainable solutions
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</ul>

*Barriers to investment in sustainable & green jobs for young people.

<img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/images/SkillsJamBoard1.PNG" style="height:560px; width:1000px" />

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Takeaways—Policy

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Barriers*

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Entry in climate work often requires climate work experience, yet youth lack basic policy literacy
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Lack of transparency and accessibility in policy-making processes makes these spaces difficult to infiltrate and access
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Lack of trust in youth to make decisions, hold knowledge, and understand solutions
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Solutions

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Contextualize and address the individual needs of each community 
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Strengthen Indigenous, climate and polluter policies and divest from fossil fuels to increase the demand for and economic incentives towards skill-development, climate jobs, and educational reform
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Increase public-private partnerships to create funding for more opportunities for youth to pitch ideas to the government

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Policy literacy programs (e.g., student government) which give youth practice and confidence in policy-making
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</ul>
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Place more youth in decision-making bodies and surround them with the support, knowledge, skills, and connections they need
</li>
</ul>

*Barriers to investment in policy innovation & meaningful opportunities for youth to engage in policy.

<img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/images/PolicyJamBoard1.PNG" style="height:551px; width:1000px" />

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Takeaways—Finance

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Barriers*

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Inaccessibility of financing, networking, and entrepreneurship education
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High interest rate loans and limited buckets of financing
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Unnecessary and difficult financial application processes
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Lack of social capital and connections
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Perception that climate solutions don’t have quick returns on investment (climate finance requires patient capital)
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Ageism and cultural perceptions about youth impede access to financial education and capital to innovate climate solutions 
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Solutions

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International & multilateral institutions need more innovative and flexible mechanisms to lend money, as well as lowered taxation towards youth
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Foster relationships & partnerships between financial and academic institutions to educate investors and the public on the benefits of green solutions to climate change
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Create training & mentorship programs between politicians and young people to encourage young people to become elected officials 
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Increase awareness and education on the power of mobilizing youth in financial investment spaces 

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Offer free educational resources and mentorship programming for youth to build skills (e.g. job entry skills, networking tips, business plan support) 
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</ul>
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Shift public common sense to value lived experience as well as financial training
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</ul>

*Barriers to investment in youth-led climate solutions.

<img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/images/FinanceJamBoard2.PNG" style="height:558px; width:1000px" />

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Conclusion

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We wrapped our session by encouraging participants to ground themselves in their own realities. Many of us are feeling overwhelmed, outraged, and optimistic right now, but we are most effective as advocates when we bring our full selves to the table – and use these feelings to guide how we innovate and transform the world.

We're grateful to all of the Young Climate Innovators participants who attended our session, and to our team of YCL staff and external facilitators who guided us through the discussions outlined here – your enthusiasm and insights have made this whole process exciting! Thanks as well to Connect4Climate for partnering with us, and to the Innovate4Climate team for hosting us.

Youth Climate Lab is a youth-for-youth global organization focused on transformative climate action. We design, pilot and scale projects to enable young people to build the just, climate-resilient futures they deserve.

Brynna Kagawa-Visentin (YCL Youth Financing Specialist) is an intersectional climate justice educator, facilitator, and thought leader whose work focuses on advocating for healthy ecosystems and communities. Naia Lee (YCL Communications Coordinator) is a facilitator, designer, and organizer who uses her passions for creating empathy, sharing stories, and scaling local action to contextualize the need for climate justice. 

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#DrivingAmbition: Sustainable Recovery

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As nations begin to emerge from the Covid-19 public health crisis, we have a unique opportunity to build back better with a central emph

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Energy Transition and Green Jobs

Description

Transitioning to a low-carbon future starts with clean energy. The good news is that the emerging renewable energy sector—wind, solar, hydro—has the power to drive job creation worldwide.

Goal: This working group will generate proposals to drive the energy transition and foster green jobs in the wake of the pandemic.

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Learn More

<ul>
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Read our article on <a href="https://www.connect4climate.org/article/sustainable-recovery-building-b…; style="text-decoration-line: none;">Sustainable Recovery</a>
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Watch #Youth4ClimateLive <a href="https://youtu.be/EG20_RyOqVU" style="text-decoration-line: none;">Episode 2: Driving Sustainable Recovery</a>
</li>
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Read <a href="http://India’s Solar Learning Curve Inspires Action Across the World" target="_blank">"India’s Solar Learning Curve Inspires Action Across the World,"</a> a World Bank Feature Story on the hard but vital work of expanding solar energy infrastructure in India and beyond
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
Check out what transpired at <a href="§%09https:/www.seforall.org/events/seforall-youth-summit-2021">SE4All’s 2021 Youth Summit</a>
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Add your input to <a href="https://studentenergy.org/">Student Energy’s Global Youth Energy Outlook</a>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>

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Adaptation and Resilience

Description

Climate change is already here, and whatever changes we implement now will take decades to start undoing the damage. So even as we work to reimagine our economies and enshrine sustainability in policy, we must also address the realities of global warming that are facing us today.

Goal: This working group will focus on enhancing the role of youth in driving adaptation and resilience, in part by eliminating barriers to entry.

<ul>
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Learn More

<ul>
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Read Connect4Climate’s article on <a href="https://www.connect4climate.org/article/adaptation-resilience-collectiv…; style="text-decoration-line: none;">Adaptation and Resilience</a>
</li>
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Watch #Youth4ClimateLive <a href="https://youtu.be/hPXbGd7iOXk" style="text-decoration-line: none;">Episode 8: Driving Adaptation and Resilience</a>
</li>
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Read the <a href="https://gca.org/reports/global-youth-call-to-action-adapt-for-our-futur… Youth Call to Action: Adapt for our Future</a> report
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Read about the <a href="https://gca.org/youth-in-climate-adaptation-moving-towards-the-digitali…; target="_blank">digitalization of agriculture</a> in this post from the Global Center on Adaptation
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And check out these helpful resources on <a href="https://gca.org/programs/youth-leadership/">youth leadership in adaptation</a>, also courtesy of the GCA
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</ul>
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</ul>

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Nature-Based Solutions

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Technology can help us build a sustainable economy, but we can't forget that the ulimate key to life on Earth is nature itself. Nature-based solutions—approaches to sustainable development respecting and drawing inspiration from the wonders of the world around us—will allow us to restore the vibrancy of life on earth, saving endangered species, protecting ecosystems, and revitalizing areas damaged by sea rise, drought, and desertification. 

Goal: This working group will explore the interrelations between climate change, nature and health, generating strategies to build back better via natural solutions.

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Learn More

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Read Connect4Climate’s article on <a href="https://www.connect4climate.org/?q=article/nature-based-solutions-harmo…; target="_blank">Nature-Based Solutions</a>
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Watch #Youth4ClimateLive Episode 4: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mb8gStJ68eM" target="_blank">"Driving N</a><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mb8gStJ68eM" target="_blank">ature-Based Solutions"</a>
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Participate in the <a href="https://www.youth4nature.org/storytelling">Youth4Nature Storytelling Campaign</a>
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Find out more about the <a href="http://www.decadeonrestoration.org/" target="_blank">U</a><a href="https://www.decadeonrestoration.org/">N Decade on Ecosystem Restoration</a>
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</ul>
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</ul>

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Financial Flows

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We can’t achieve a low-carbon future if finance and financial flows do not support it. Subsidies to coal and gas have long hindered the affordability of green energy technologies—it's time to bring an end to these perverse incentives. Innovative market-based solutions exist for creating low-carbon economies, and we need to harness them to drive the global economy toward a sustainable model. When climate-positivity is linked with profit, the goals of the climate movement will be much easier to reach at the required scale.

Goal: This working group will produce proposals on how countries can realign their financial flows to facilitate a low-carbon future.

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Learn More

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Read <a href="http://www.un.org/sites/un2.un.org/files/100_billion_climate_finance_re…; target="_blank">"Delivering on the </a><a href="http://www.un.org/sites/un2.un.org/files/100_billion_climate_finance_re…; target="_blank">$100 Billion Climate Finance Commitment and Transforming Climate Finance</a>, a report from the UN
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Get a quick primer on climate finance from <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/earth-and-planetary-sciences/carbo…; style="text-decoration-line: none;">Science Direct</a>
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Bone up on the World Bank Group's efforts in <a href="https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/climatechange/brief/world-bank-carbo…; style="text-decoration-line: none;">Climate Finance</a>
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Study the World Bank Group's materials on <a href="https://ieg.worldbankgroup.org/evaluations/carbon-finance" style="text-decoration-line: none;">Carbon Markets</a> and how they can help cut back on greenhouse gas emissions
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Study <a href="https://ieg.worldbankgroup.org/evaluations/carbon-finance" style="text-decoration-line: none;">Carbon Markets</a> and how they can help cut back on greenhouse gas emissions
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Learn from UNCHR how <a href="https://www.unhcr.org/55005b069.pdf" target="_blank">Carbon Financing</a> can support the world's most vulnerable populations
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>

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Tourism

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Plane flights, boat rides, lodging, souvenirs and other elements of tourism contribute heavily to carbon emissions. For some countries, tourism represents a significant percentage of GDP, but that doesn't mean climate consciousness isn't an option: it just means more work needs to be put in to green the tourism economy as we build back from Covid-19. "Ecotourism" has become a popular niche in the last ten years, but we have to reimagine tourism from top to bottom to properly address its impacts on our atmosphere.

Goal: This working group will generate proposals to guide the smart, sustainable recovery of the tourism industry worldwide.

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Learn More

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Read the UN News article <a href="http://news.un.org/en/story/2019/12/1052791" target="_blank">"</a><a href="http://news.un.org/en/story/2019/12/1052791" target="_blank">Greener tourism: Greater collaboration needed to tackle rising emissions</a><a href="http://news.un.org/en/story/2019/12/1052791" target="_blank">"</a>
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Size up the <a href="https://sustainabletravel.org/issues/carbon-footprint-tourism/" style="text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Carbon Footprint of Tourism</a> with this resource from Sustainable Travel International
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Read <a href="http://www.e-unwto.org/doi/book/10.18111/9789284416660" target="_blank">"</a><a href="http://www.e-unwto.org/doi/book/10.18111/9789284416660" target="_blank">Transport-related CO2 Emissions of the Tourism Sector - Modelling Results</a><a href="http://www.e-unwto.org/doi/book/10.18111/9789284416660" target="_blank">,"</a> a report from the UNWTO
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Learn from Climate Brief where in the world tourism has <a href="http://www.carbonbrief.org/tourism-responsible-for-8-of-global-greenhou…; target="_blank">disproportionate impacts on climate</a>
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Familiarize yourself with <a href="https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/environment/publication/banking-on-p…; target="_blank">"Banking on Protected Areas: Promoting Sustainable Protected Area Tourism to Benefit Local Communities,"</a> a new report from the World Bank
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</ul>
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</ul>

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#DrivingAmbition: Youth Driving Ambition

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Young people like you are, quite literally, the future of our planet.

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Local

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Driving action at the local level can take many different forms: climate clubs at school, community demonstrations, knowledge-sharing in social media groups. We're all authorities on our own hometowns—and when we stand up for climate at home, we all contribute to a global push toward a green future! Respecting local expertise while developing a global movement is the challenge of the international climate community, and this working group offers a unique chance to reckon with that challenge.

Goal: This working group will generate proposals to foster youth engagement with climate issues at the local level in regions all over the world.

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Learn More

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Watch <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KiKCuhb5Kco" target="_blank">#Youth4ClimateLive Episode 9: Driving Local Action</a>
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Read <a href="https://www.wri.org/insights/theres-easy-way-national-governments-help-…; target="_blank">"</a><a href="https://www.wri.org/insights/theres-easy-way-national-governments-help-…; target="_blank">There’s an Easy Way for National Governments to Help Cities Act on Climate Change - Give Them Data</a><a href="https://www.wri.org/insights/theres-easy-way-national-governments-help-…; target="_blank">,"</a> an article from the World Resources Institute
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Read <a href="https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2021/08/19/why-kinshasa-could…; target="_blank">"</a><a href="https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2021/08/19/why-kinshasa-could…; target="_blank">Why Kinshasa Could Be in the Vanguard of Megacities’ Climate Resilience,"</a> a World Bank Feature Story on a $500 million climate project driving sustainability and climate resiliency in one of the world's largest metropolises
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Explore <a href="https://www.c40.org/about" target="_blank">C40 Cities</a>, a network of megacities around the world committed to robust climate action
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Use the <a href="https://www.reachnotpreach.com/" target="_blank">Reach Not Preach</a><a href="https://www.reachnotpreach.com/forum" target="_blank"> Forum</a> to connect with other young people and put your heads together on driving climate action
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>

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National

Description

Often, contributing to climate action at the national level means linking up with many local groups online and planning larger-scale climate demonstrations, letter-writing campaigns, etc. Taking every chance you get to learn more about the political processes in your country and form strategies to convey your concern on climate to policymakers is key—productive pressure on legislators is what leads to the kind of action we need to turn back the climate crisis. And when given the opportunity, youth should be unafraid to engage with policymakers directly on their Nationally Determined Contributions and other climate policies. But governments need to meaningfully include youth in their decision-making processes as a first step in order for these approaches to be viable: that's what this working group's all about!

Goal: This working group will produce guidelines and recommendations on how countries can enable youth to make their voices heard and shape climate policy at the national level.

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Learn More

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Watch <a href="http://Watch Episode 3: Driving Youth Action" target="_blank">Episode 3</a> of #Youth4ClimateLive, "Driving Youth Action"
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
Read <a href="http://environment.yale.edu/news/article/building-public-and-political-…; target="_blank">"</a><a href="http://environment.yale.edu/news/article/building-public-and-political-…; target="_blank">Building Public and Political Will for Climate Change Action</a><a href="http://environment.yale.edu/news/article/building-public-and-political-…; target="_blank">,"</a> a helpful reference from Yale's School of the Environment
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
Peruse the UNFCCC <a href="https://unfccc.int/sites/default/files/resource/engaging-private-sector…; style="text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Toolkit for Engaging the Private Sector in National Adaptation Plans (NAPs)</a> 
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
Read <a href="https://ndcpartnership.org/news/roadmap-meaningful-youth-engagement-ndc…; target="_blank">"A Roadmap to Meaningful Youth Engagement in NDCs,"</a> a helpful roadmap from the NDC Partnership on how young people can influence their countries' Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to the global fight against climate change
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>

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Multilateral

Description

Just as local organizations can come together to effect national change, national youth delegations can come together to effect global change! Your interest in multilateral collaboration is clear, and this working group offers a unique opportunity to brainstorm ways of expanding youth representation at the highest-level climate events.

Goal: This working group will generate proposals to better include youth in international fora and harness their unique knowledge to shape international climate policy.

<ul>
<li dir="ltr">
Learn More

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://youth4climate.live/" style="text-decoration-line: none;">Watch our #Youth4ClimateLive series</a> to see youth leaders in intergenerational conversations with decision makers
</li>
<li>
Read up on <a href="http://www.youngo.uno/" style="text-decoration-line: none;">YOUNGO</a> and the work it's doing to bring young perspectives to the highest levels of international policymaking
</li>
<li>
See what the <a href="https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/youth-in-action/youth-advisory-grou…; style="text-decoration-line: none;">UN Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change</a> is doing to shape the global discourse around climate action
</li>
<li>
Discover the work of <a href="https://sdsnyouth.org/" target="_blank">SDSN Youth</a> to empower young people to contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals at the highest levels
</li>
<li>
Browse this UN reference on its work with <a href="https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/youth-in-action" target="_blank">Youth in Action</a>
</li>
<li>
Connect with other young people using <a href="https://www.sparkblue.org/youth" target="_blank">SparkBlue</a>, a UN Development Programme online platform for coordinating global action
</li>
<li>
Look into the <a href="https://ukcoy16.org/" target="_blank">UN Climate Change Conference of Youth (COY)</a> happening in Glasgow, Scotland this November alongside COP26
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>

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#DrivingAmbition: A Climate-Conscious Society

By

This article is part of a series on topics to be explored at this year's #Youth4Climate: #DrivingAmbition event. Check back regularly for updated content!

Sections

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Showcasing Impacts and Solutions

Description

Sharing the human stories of those most deeply affected by an issue is one of the most powerful ways to galvanize a reponse to that issue. When showcasing impacts, it’s important to give voice to people of disparate identities and lived experiences and to call special attention to those disproportionately affected—often those from groups that have been historically disenfranchised and denied the means to bring about policy change.

Goal: This breakout group will brainstorm how best to achieve equity in climate action, drawing in particular on the invaluable perspectives of local communities, indigenous people, and women.

<ul>
<li dir="ltr">
Learn More

<ul>
<li dir="ltr">
Read up on strategies for <a href="https://www.connect4climate.org/article/inclusive-engagement-amplifying…; target="_blank">amplifying marginalized voices</a> in this article from our Educational Toolkit.
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
Watch Youth4ClimateLive Episode 5, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjrdxpyvBqE" target="_blank">"Driving Empowerment: Protecting the Most Vulnerable"</a>
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
<a href="https://www.connect4climate.org/article/meet-human-faces-climate-migrat…; target="_blank">"Meet the Human Faces of Climate Migration"</a> in this World Bank Group Groundswell Report
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>

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Education

Description

Education is the mainstay of democratic societies and an excellent way to give young people the courage and knowledge they need to make a tremendous impact on climate and other global issues. What this working group will ask is: How is the climate crisis currently being taught in schools around the world? Where are we lacking? And what are creative avenues for improvement?

Goal: This breakout group will brainstorm the most essential topics and standards that need to come across in climate education and help think up innovative strategies for bringing this content to students around the world.

<ul>
<li dir="ltr">
Learn More

<ul>
<li dir="ltr">
Get the scoop on <a href="https://unfccc.int/topics/education-youth/the-big-picture/what-is-actio…; target="_blank">Action for Climate Empowerment (ACE)</a> from UN Climate Change
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
Explore UNESCO's <a href="https://en.unesco.org/themes/education-sustainable-development/cce" target="_blank">"Education for climate action"</a> hub
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
Engage with Earth Day’s <a href="http://www.earthday.org/campaign/climate-environmental-literacy/" target="_blank">Climate & Environmental Literacy Campaign</a>
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
Peruse the UN's many <a href="https://unfccc.int/topics/education-and-outreach/resources/materials-on…; target="_blank">Education and Training Resources</a>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>

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Public Mobilization

Description

Driving climate literacy in communities and empowering the public to mobilize for climate action means communicating the latest climate research effectively and making climate policy more transparent. Sustained mutual engagement between individuals and governments is essential.

Goal: This breakout group will help develop innovative public and private outreach efforts to make the science of climate change accessible to all and promote climate advocacy and action at the community and individual levels.

<ul>
<li dir="ltr">
Learn More

<ul>
<li dir="ltr">
Play the UN's interactive <a href="https://mission1point5.org/us" target="_blank">Mission 1.5</a> game
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
Join the UN's <a href="https://www.un.org/en/actnow" target="_blank">Act Now</a> campaign
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
Read up on the creative climate outreach fostered by <a href="https://www.connect4climate.org/article/congrats-our-youth4climate-new-…; target="_blank">Connect4Climate's partnership with the D&AD New Blood Awards</a>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>

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Media

Description

On TV and in newspapers, climate change is almost always framed as a clinical, environmental phenomenon. Yet the human impacts of climate change—and the larger climate crisis radiating out from it—are very real. In order to get more people invested in climate action, we have to think about evocative ways in which to reframe the issues in media.

Goal: This breakout group will generate proposals to improve climate narratives in media by recontextualizing them in terms of concrete human impact.

<ul>
<li dir="ltr">
Learn More

<ul>
<li dir="ltr">
Browse <a href="https://www.sayitwithscience.org/" target="_blank">Say It With Science</a> for ideas on smart science communication
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
Review publications from the <a href="https://climatecommunication.yale.edu/publications/" target="_blank">Yale Program on Climate Change Communication</a>
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
Look through the <a href="https://sciencepolicy.colorado.edu/icecaps/research/media_coverage/summ…; target="_blank">Media and Climate Change Observatory</a>'s monthly summaries of international climate coverage
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
Explore the resources available at <a href="https://coveringclimatenow.org/" target="_blank">Covering Climate Now</a>
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
Read UNESCO's article <a href="https://en.unesco.org/news/media-and-information-literacy-prerequisite-…; target="_blank">"Media and information literacy: A prerequisite for stimulating climate change engagement"</a>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>

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#DrivingAmbition: Non-State Actors' Engagement

By

This article is part of a series on topics to be explored at this year's #Youth4Climate: #DrivingAmbition event. Check back regularly for updated content!

Sections

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Food

Description

[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrZViyhwo_A]

Food production and food systems have an outsize impact on our climate. Did you know that <a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/food-systems-responsible-for-one-third-of-h…; target="_blank">food systems are responsible for fully one-third of human-caused greenhouse gas emissions</a>? This is not how it has to be, however: we have the power to support planet-positive farming and circular agricultural practices. <a href="https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2021/03/5-ways-transform-food-system-sus…; target="_blank">Transforming our food systems is both possible and essential.</a>

Goal: This working group will draft proposals on how to improve climate resiliency in food systems and how to productively engage the food industry on ways it can promote sustainability and climate-consciousness.

<ul>
<li dir="ltr">
Learn More

<ul>
<li dir="ltr">Join the <a href="https://foodsystems.community" style="text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Summit Community</a> for the<a href="https://www.un.org/en/food-systems-summit" style="text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"> UN Food Pre-Summit in July</a> 
 </li>
<li dir="ltr">
Read this comprehensive <a href="https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/climate-smart-agriculture" target="_blank">Climate-Smart Agriculture</a> article from The World Bank
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
Read <a href="https://unfoundation.org/blog/post/climate-change-and-the-future-of-foo…; target="_blank">"Climate Change and the Future of Food,"</a> a blog post from the UN Foundation
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
Read this detailed breakdown of <a href="https://www.ipcc.ch/srccl/chapter/chapter-5/" target="_blank">Food Security</a> in a dedicated chapter from an IPCC report
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
Peruse the UN Food and Agricultural Organization's <a href="http://www.fao.org/climate-change/en/" target="_blank">page on Climate Change</a>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>

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Entrepreneurship

Description

Entrepreneurs are able to create new technologies to address the world’s most pressing challenges, and thus have a key role to play in combatting the climate crisis. In order to come up with the innovative solutions we need to drive #ClimateAction around the world, we have to invest in entrepreneurs.

Goal: This working group will help identify ways to foster transformation processes and push accelerators into climate technology markets to help entrepreneurs realize their ideas.

<ul>
<li dir="ltr">
Learn More

<ul>
<li dir="ltr">
Read our #Youth4Climate <a href="https://www.connect4climate.org/article/innovation-and-entrepreneurship…; style="text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Innovation and Entrepreneurship article</a>
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
Watch Episode 7 of Youth4ClimateLive, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pH6QbsaKlPc" target="_blank">"Driving Innovation & Entrepreneurship"</a>
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
Explore the <a href="https://www.greenpreneurs.co/" style="box-sizing: border-box; background-color: transparent; text-decoration-line: none; color: rgb(51, 122, 183);" target="_blank">Greenpreneurs</a> program and apply to be a member of the latest Greenpreneurs cohort
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
Explore the many <a href="https://www.climatecolab.org/contests" style="box-sizing: border-box; background-color: transparent; text-decoration-line: none; color: rgb(51, 122, 183);">innovation-oriented climate contests</a> open for submissions on the Climate CoLab website
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
Read about the UNFCCC’s work on <a href="https://unfccc.int/ttclear/tec/brief12.html" style="text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Energizing Entrepreneurs to Tackle Climate Change</a>
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
Read <a href="http://blogs.worldbank.org/climatechange/innovation-climate-change-adap…; target="_blank">"</a><a href="http://blogs.worldbank.org/climatechange/innovation-climate-change-adap…; target="_blank">Innovation in climate change adaptation: Does it reach those who need it most?</a><a href="http://blogs.worldbank.org/climatechange/innovation-climate-change-adap…; target="_blank">,"</a> a blog post from the World Bank Group
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
Visit the <a href="http://innovate4climate.com" style="text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Innovate4Climate</a> website and <a href="https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/fAUMLon/i4c2021updates" style="text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">subscribe to the newsletter</a>.
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
Read through <a href="https://unfccc.int/ttclear/misc_/StaticFiles/gnwoerk_static/brief12/bd8…; style="text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">UNFCCC’s TEC Brief</a>
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
Read up on how the <a href="http://www.centreforpublicimpact.org/insights/fight-climate-change-yout…; target="_blank">Commision for Environmental Cooperation</a> facilitates collaboration and public participation for young innovators.
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>

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Sports

Description

Sports and climate go hand in hand. Just as a clean climate is essential for fair and enjoyable sports—<a href="https://www.climatecentral.org/news/report-pouring-it-on-climate-change…; target="_blank">abnormal rain</a> washes out playing fields, <a href="https://www.espn.com/espn/story/_/id/29870359/air-quality-issues-expect…; target="_blank">poor air quality</a> harms players' health—sports are an essential means of communicating the value of the natural world to mass audiences. As our own #Sport4Climate initiative has shown, sports can be a powerful vehicle for driving climate action.

Goal: This working group will form proposals to develop the role of the sports sector within the Climate Action Agenda, strengthening the sports industry's role in raising climate awareness and incentivizing it to set an example of climate consciousness through its own actions.

<ul>
<li dir="ltr">
Learn More

<ul>
<li dir="ltr">
Take a look at The Climate Reality Project to learn <a href="https://www.climaterealityproject.org/blog/how-climate-crisis-threatens…; style="text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">How The Climate Crisis Threatens The Future of Sports</a>
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
Check out Connect4Climate’s <a href="https://www.connect4climate.org/initiatives/sport4climate" style="text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">#Sport4Climate initiative</a> to see how we’ve worked alongside the sports sector to drive climate action over the years
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
Read up on UN Climate Change's <a href="https://unfccc.int/climate-action/sectoral-engagement/sports-for-climat…; target="_blank">Sports for Climate Action</a> initiative too
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
Get a better sense of the interplay between <a href="https://climatenexus.org/climate-issues/climate-change-and-sports/" target="_blank">"Climate Change and Sports"</a> in this helpful article from Climate Nexus
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>

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Fashion

Description

Operating under the wasteful paradigm of "fast fashion," the modern fashion industry is one of the leading contributors to water pollution and is responsible for fully 10% of the world's annual greenhouse gas emissions. It is infamously resource-intensive, too: Did you know that <a href="https://unfccc.int/news/un-helps-fashion-industry-shift-to-low-carbon&q…; target="_blank">the production of a single pair of denim jeans consumes 10,000 liters of water</a>? There will always be a need for clothing, but the fashion sector needs a serious makeover if we're to have a chance at a sustainable future.

Goal: This working group will brainstorm ways in which the fashion industry can reconceptualize to contribute positively to the Climate Action Agenda instead of hindering it.

<ul>
<li dir="ltr">
Learn More

<ul>
<li dir="ltr">
Familiarize yourself with the <a href="https://unfccc.int/climate-action/sectoral-engagement/global-climate-ac…; target="_blank">Fashion Industry Charter for Climate Action</a>
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
Read the World Bank Group's article,<a href="https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2019/09/23/costo-moda-medio-a…; style="text-decoration-line: none;"> </a><a href="http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2019/09/23/costo-moda-medio-am…; target="_blank">"How Much do Our Wardrobes Cost to the Environment?"</a>
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
Get acquainted with the <a href="https://unfashionalliance.org/" target="_blank">UN Alliance for Sustainable Fashion</a>, an initiative dedicated to bringing the world of fashion into alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
Check out Connect4Climate’s <a href="https://www.connect4climate.org/initiatives/fashion4climate" style="text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">#Fashion4Climate initiative</a> to see how we've worked with the fashion sector to bring its problems to light and move forward constructively
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
In particular, dive into <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRO5FL66B_8" target="_blank">"X-Ray Fashion,"</a> a groundbreaking #Fashion4Climate VR experience
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>

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Arts

Description

The arts offer the opportunity to communicate the impact of climate change and the need for unified action in a uniquely resonant, emotional way. At Connect4Climate, we interface with the arts regularly through our #Music4Climate and #Film4Climate initiatives, striking up inspiring collaborations with creative people around the world.

Goal: This working group will explore strategies of engaging with the art and entertainment sectors on climate issues and develop novel approaches to using film, music and more to communicate the essential message of climate action.

<ul>
<li dir="ltr">
Learn More

<ul>
<li dir="ltr">
Learn more about Connect4Climate's <a href="https://www.connect4climate.org/initiatives/film4climate" target="_blank">#Film4Climate</a> collaborations with the film industry
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
Learn more about our <a href="https://www.connect4climate.org/initiatives/music4climate" target="_blank">#Music4Climate</a> projects to frame the issues through song
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
Browse this helpful selection of <a href="https://www.connect4climate.org/article/green-films-watch-athome" target="_blank">"Green Films to Watch #AtHome"</a>
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
Get on board with the <a href="https://creativeindustriespact.com/" target="_blank">Creative Industries Pact for Sustainable Action</a>
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
Read up on the <a href="https://www.greenproductionguide.com/about-the-sustainable-production-a…; target="_blank">Sustainable Production Alliance</a> and delve into its <a href="https://www.greenproductionguide.com/tools/" target="_blank">Green Prodution Guide Toolkit</a> and other resources
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
Read <a href="https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/greening-entertainment-indu…; target="_blank">"Greening the Entertainment Industry is Music to Our Ears,"</a> an inspiring story from UNEP on a campaign to promote climate positivity in the music industry
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>

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The Youth Who Took Over #ClimateWeekLAC Look Back on Their Experiences

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Latin America and the Caribbean Climate Week (LACCW) may be over, but it has left us with great messages that our #YouthTakeover team was able to capture throughout its soc

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