On December 3rd, COP21 opens its doors to the youth. The Young and Future’s Generation Day at the UNFCCC COP21 will host a number of youth-focused events throughout the day.
On December 3, the Young and Future’s Generation Day at the UNFCCC is a non-stop celebration of youth power and participation at UN climate change conferences. The youth day will host a number of youth-focused events throughout the day, placing youth at the heart of the climate talks. Connect4Climate has contributed in creating a dynamic and engaging program.
At midday young leaders will join their older counterparts, including Christiana Figueres, on the Intergenerational Inquiry. The event is organized jointly by YOUNGO, the UN Joint Framework Initiative on Children, Youth and Climate Change, and the UNFCCC secretariat and will take place from 1:15pm to 2:45pm in the "Blue Zone".
This is followed by a special screening of “An Inconvenient Youth”, a film documenting the vibrant untold story of the global youth climate movement by Slater Jewell-Kemker, a young Canadian. As part of the program the #Film4Climate Final Draft Charter will be presented.
Find us on the German Pavilion at 18:00 for the screening and to discuss how Film and Creativity can advance the Climate Movement. An inspiring panel will include Slater Jewell-Kemker, Kumi Naidoo, Bianca Jagger, and Fernando Mereilles.
The world needs your leadership!
Climate education is key to promoting youth engagement with climate solutions. Join us and the UNFCCC for an engaging discussion on Non-Formal Climate Education at 6:30pm on December 4 in Room 4, Hall 4. Max Edkins will present the Connect4Climate engagement strategy and announce Fiat Lux: Illuminating Our Common Home. The event is part of a full day of events dedicated to Education at COP21.
On 8pm, December 4, there will be Youth Reception to celebrate young climate leaders at the Climate Change Studio, Hall 4, in the "Blue Zone". Please see the flyer below.
#Youth4Climate is a campaign organized by a flotilla of partners to inspire young people around the world to take action on climate change. Building on successful past engagement through competitions and events Connect4Climate creates opportunities for youth to speak out on climate change.
As the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change says in Article 6, education contributes to the solutions being developed to respond to the challenges and opportunities presented by climate change.
“The solutions to climate change are also the paths to a safer, healthier, cleaner and more prosperous future for all. To see this and to understand what needs to be done requires a sharp and sustained focus on education, training and public awareness in all countries and at all levels of government, society and enterprise.”
Key points on why climate change education matters:
- Long-term, independent records from weather stations, satellites, ocean buoys, tide gauges, and many other data sources all confirm that our nation, like the rest of the world, is warming. Scientists who study climate change confirm that these observations are consistent with significant changes in Earth’s climatic trends. (U.S. National Climate Assessment, 2014)
- Over the 21st century, climate scientists expect Earth’s temperature to continue increasing, very likely more than it did during the 20th century. Two anticipated results are rising global sea level and increasing frequency and intensity of heat waves, droughts, and floods. These changes will affect almost every aspect of human society, including economic prosperity, human and environmental health, and national security. (USGCRP Climate Literacy, 2009)
- Climate change will bring economic and environmental challenges as well as opportunities, and citizens who have an understanding of climate science will be better prepared to respond to both. (USGCRP Climate Literacy, 2009)
- Society needs citizens who understand the climate system and know how to apply that knowledge in their careers and in their engagement as active members of their communities. (USGCRP Climate Literacy, 2009)
- Climate change will continue to be a significant element of public discourse. Understanding the essential principles of climate science will enable all people to assess news stories and contribute to their everyday conversations as informed citizens. (USGCRP Climate Literacy, 2009)
The #Youth4Climate social media campaign is an effort led by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the U.S. Department of Energy, the Association of Science-Technology Centers (ASTC), the CLEAN Network, The Wild Center, the World Bank Group’s global partnership program Connect4Climate, Climate Generation: A Will Steger Legacy, Alliance for Climate Education, Earth Day Network, Climate Interactive, and others. It is an open discussion for all to join the youth call for climate action.
Young people are one of the largest demographics in the world — more than one billion youth roam the globe today. Climate education is now a necessary foundation for those young people. In order to tackle the complex issue of climate change, we need leaders with the skills, knowledge, and passion to push for, and innovate solutions.
With their knowledge, young people are already the leaders of this generation. They are already demanding ambitious action on climate change and leading a youth climate movement. The #Youth4Climate coalition is supporting them all the way on the road to and through Paris.
We are excited to join forces and support them by giving them a voice and an opportunity to lead in Paris and beyond. We know the solutions are here, and are committed to working together to build a resilient climate-friendly world. Join us at #Youth4Climate.
This coordinated media effort is a commitment to educating, engaging, and lifting up youth in the COP 21 space. In order to create a powerful presence during this defining moment in climate history, we need your help! This toolkit should provide you with all the information you need to engage in the #Youth4Climate social media campaign, as well as provide you with a list of important youth and climate education initiatives taking place around COP21. Social Media Tool Kit.
For a month, from November 12 until December 12 2015, we’re calling on young people to share their climate solutions, tell their climate stories, and engage in the UNFCCC COP21.
November 12-13: In the center of the Adirondacks, in northern New York State, 200 high school & college students convene at The Wild Center for the Adirondack Youth Climate Summit (www.wildcenter.org/youthclimate) to learn climate science and to create Climate Action Plans for their schools & communities. #ADKyouthsummit Watch highlights at www.wildcenter.org/live
November 12-30: In the lead up to COP21, get ready to film a #Day4Climate action when people around the world will raise the voice of youth in climate action, and send in your climate questions and or statements to the partners developing the U.S. Center side event, “Our Time to Lead: Youth Engagement on Climate Change” on November 30th (ASTC, The Wild Center, and the Alliance for Climate Education, collaboration with DOE and NOAA) using the hashtag #AskUSCenter. www.state.gov/cop21
November 15: Students and teachers from schools from across New England will meet at Miss Porter’s School in Farmington, CT for the GSAx Sustainability Conference to share best practices and create action plans around how schools can play an integral part in addressing climate and conservation challenges. #GreenSchoolsAll http://www.greenschoolsalliance.org/event/gsax-sustainability-conference-0
November 16-17: If you are in Washington DC on November 16-17, join the World Bank Youth Summit 2015 to engage with crowd-sourced solutions to climate change, or discuss climate change with your peers online through the #wbgyouthsummit community (http://www.worldbank.org/en/events/2015/08/26/youth-summit-2015).
November 20: Vermont Youth Climate Summit. High school and college students from across the state of Vermont will share ideas, craft plans, & inspire action to reduce carbon footprints of schools and communities through peer-to-peer learning at the University of Vermont in Burlington, VT. Follow https://www.facebook.com/VTYouthClimateSummit/ and connect with #VTYCS.
November 21: Middle and High School students will gather at Furr High School in Houston, TX for the School & Community Sustainability Summit. The Summit is a collaborative effort of the Green Schools Alliance and the Houston East End Greenbelt Initiative. #GreenSchoolsAllhttp://www.greenschoolsalliance.org/event/2015-furr-hs-school-community-sustainability-conference
November 26: Finland Youth Climate Summit at Heureka, the Finnish Science Center in Helsinki. Junior high schools students from all over Finland will gather to create a climate action plan for their schools, while their teachers learn to support them, with coaching from experts. It is the most remarkable climate education event in the country, leading not only to learning but also to concrete actions. www.facebook.com/nuortenilmastohuippukokous, http://ilmasto.org/ilmari-hanke-vie-ilmastokeskustelun-kouluihin/nuorten-ilmastohuippukokous
November 26-28: This year’s Conference of Youth (http://coy11.org/en/), organized by young volunteers, will take place in Villepinte, France. The conference targets youth, aged 18 to 30, to spread sustainability best practices, with a specific climate change focus. Join #COY15 and spread the youth climate movement.
November 29: Join the 24-hr Film a #Day4Climate Action challenge organized by Connect4Climate, Vimeo and partners. On November 29, at the Global Climate March, people around the world will raise their voices for climate action. Film your climate action, solution, or conversation on the day before COP21. We are heading for a clean resilient future. Let’s make it a reality. Let’s tell the world through film, send your story to #Day4Climate (https://vimeo.com/groups/day4climate).
November 30: At the U.S. Center at COP21, an interactive panel of climate scientists, decision makers, science museums, and youth climate organizations will showcase unique and diverse youth programming models and student-driven initiatives that are advancing place-based climate solutions. www.state.gov/cop21.
November 30: Youth experts will also be heard at COP21 in the Justice and Future Generations: Achieving Intergenerational Equity in Paris and Beyond side-event.
November 30-December 11: The Window into Paris: COP21 #EducatorsinParis initiative of Climate Generation: A Will Steger Legacy will be sending out daily digests that include blogs by their staff and teacher delegation to Paris, and information on how to connect to daily webcasts hosted by teachers connecting back to their classrooms, which will also be open to the public. Climate Generation will be bringing the position statements of hundreds of students and public to share with the U.S. delegation. Climate Generation will also host daily informal “cafe roundtables” with experts in Paris (www.climategen.org/cop21).
December 1: CLEAN Network Teleconference: LIVE FROM PARIS - Frank Niepold, NOAA Climate Program Office and Johanna Bozuwa, Earth Day Network, Title: #COP21 Youth Engagement on #climatechange, http://cleanet.org/clean/community/cln/telecon_schedule.html
December 3: The Young and Future’s Generation Day at the UNFCCC COP21 (unfccc.int/meetings/paris_nov_2015/meeting/8926/php/view/seors.php) will host a number of youth-focused events throughout the day, placing youth at the heart of the climate talks. Join with #ParisACE for #COP21
December 3: In the middle of the day young leaders will join their older counterparts on the Intergenerational Inquiry official side-event of the UNFCCC. This is followed by a special screening of “An Inconvenient Youth” (http://www.aninconvenientyouth.com/), a film documenting the vibrant untold story of the global youth climate movement by Slater Jewell-Kemker, a young Canadian.
December 3: During an international interactive video conference organizing a dialogue between youth and experts on concrete plans for their communities and youth and education leaders can ask their questions at the Universcience the science center in Paris on December 3rd by using hashtag #WorldCOP21.
December 4: UN Alliance Call to Action: There is an urgent need to scale-up action and investment in climate change education, training, and awareness raising. This high-level event showcases innovative ways of effectively engaging all stakeholder in this transformation. Panelists will include representatives from Earth Day Network and Connect4Climate, discussing recent climate education and communication initiatives. In the evening the #Day4Climate filmmakers and UNFCCC videographers will be celebrated at a youth reception with a special presentation by Prince Ea.
December 4: World Climate Project: Interactive Simulation of UN Climate Negotiations. In the Climate Generations Area from 11:30-13:00, Climate Interactive will offer a chance to explore potential pathways to address climate change through an interactive demonstration of the World Climate game and computer simulations C-ROADS and En-ROADS. Put yourself in the shoes of the climate negotiators to see what it will take. Analysis of the INDC pledges will be offered alongside a framework for understanding how climate solutions can and must address other challenges simultaneously. See more: www.climateinteractive.org/world-climate-project/
December 6: The Sustainia Award Ceremony will highlight and celebrate the solutions and young change makers that are already paving the road to achieving the SDGs and tackling climate change. Young entrepreneurs will be awarded by a jury lead by Arnold Schwarzenegger. Connect4Climate will present leading industry transformers from their Fashion4Climate and Film4Climate initiatives during the show: www.sustainia.me/cop21/
December 7-8: Earth To Paris: A diverse coalition of groups, from foundations to technology companies to media organizations and more, is uniting to launch Earth To Paris to drive awareness and host events that highlight the connection between people and planet and the need for strong climate action; to showcase climate solutions and innovations; to bring together communities to promote collaboration; and to engage people around the world in the dialogue taking place in Paris. www.earthtoparis.org/
December 8: CLEAN Network Teleconference: LIVE FROM PARIS - Kristen Poppleton, Climate Generation: A Will Steger Legacy, Title: Window into Paris: COP21http://cleanet.org/clean/community/cln/telecon_schedule.html
Last week, with the Pope Francis' visit to Washington DC, Connect4Climate teamed up with Earth Day Network to announce the People’s March for Earth. It will take place on November 8, in Rome, in support of the Vicariate of Rome's “Day for the Custody of Creation” celebration.
United with Pope Francis for Universal Solidarity and Climate Action.
In his Encyclical “Praise Be to You, Laudato Sì - On Care for Our Common Home,” Pope Francis encourages all people to praise and thank God for his glorious creation and to work together to safeguard our world. The Holy Father also gives special attention to the global challenge all humanity is now facing: the urgency of tackling poverty and climate change.
The Holy Father places special emphasis on an “Integral Ecology,” the need to understand the profound connections and interrelationship between the social, environmental, and economical aspects of our lives, and the strong relationships among all human beings and the life of all creatures.
As Pope Francis calls on us all to act as one, he urges all of humanity to work together to take care of our “Common Home”, which we are called to inhabit as a united human family throughout all generations.
With this in mind, on November 8th, the Vicariate of Rome will celebrate a “Day for the Custody of Creation.” The celebration takes place right before the United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP21), a pivotal moment in global history for responsible citizens from all over the world.
With this in mind, Earth Day Network and Connect4Climate have been invited by the Vatican to organize a People’s March for the Earth in Rome to showcase global citizens’ undivided support of Pope Francis, and to help bring his message of peace to the attention of all Global Leaders.
On Sunday, November 8th, people from all over the world together with civil society and faith organizations, will gather at 9:00 AM in front of the Coliseum, the iconic symbol of the Eternal City.
The march will then start at 10:00 AM, and will progress through via dei Fori Imperiali before arriving in Piazza SS. Apostoli at the “Laudato Sì Village” of the Vicariage of Rome.
In Piazza SS. Apostoli, a free shuttle service will be available for people to reach St. Peter’s Square, where Pope Francis will greet the audience and the participants of the march during the Angelus. The Holy Father’s message will also be livestreamed on a screen at the Laudato Sì village.
In the afternoon, a rich program will feature artists from all over the world and include food stands and educational activities at the “Laudato Sì Village”. The program will close with a concert starting at 5:00 PM.
Earth Day Network
Kathryn Stoddard
stoddard@earthday.net • http://www.earthday.org Office: 413.367.9767 • Mobile: 413.575.9180
Connect4Climate
Lucia Grenna Lgrenna@worldbankgroup.org Mobile: +1 202.247.5931
Connect4Climate
Massimiliano Falcone gfalcone@worldbankgroup.org Mobile: +39 348 760 7068
Earth Day Italy
Pierluigi Sassi info@earthdayitalia.org Mobile: +39 335 465 404
Connect4Climate is traveling to Lima to bring youth climate stories to COP20 to remind decision makers that they need to be ambitious and act quickly.
December 5th, 15:30 - 17:30. Support to Capacity Building and Climate Strategies in Developing Countries
Organized by the European Commission, Directorate-General for Climate Action, and the Italian Presidency of the Council of the European Union
This side event presents results of capacity building projects, to facilitate better enabling environments and climate strategies in developing countries. The second part is a panel discussion on which key factors are needed for strengthening enabling environments for climate action.
December 6th - 7th. Global Landscapes Forum
Organized by the Peruvian ministries of environment and agriculture, the Food and Agriculture Organization, the Center for International Forestry Research, and the United Nations Environment Programme
The Global Landscapes Forum creates a platform for positioning landscapes in the new international agreements on climate and sustainable development. Action4Climate films At The Desert's Edge and Snows of the Nile will be screened.
December 8th, 18:00 - 20:00. The Role of Mountain Forests to Climate Change Adaptation: Which Perspective from Sustainable Forest Management
Organized by the Italian Ministry for the Environment; The Italian Presidency of the Alpine Convention
This side event aims to share experiences of developing forest management strategy and actions for local adaptation to climate change in mountain areas.
December 9th, 18:30 - 20:30. The Challenges of Local Adaptation and Initiatives for Communities
Organized by the Italian Ministry for the Environment Land and Sea, the International Network for Bamboo and Rattan, CARE International's Poverty Environment and Climate Change Network, and Fundación Ambiente y Recursos Naturales
This side-event will share the experience of developing cross-cutting regional guidelines for local adaptation planning as a matter for regional cooperation involving sub-national administrations (e.g. Regions, Provinces, Urban centres), local communities and the private sector.
At the Voces por el Clima / Voices for Climate exhibit in Lima three #Action4Climate films are shown.
I stood in front of about 30 college students from several universities on the East Coast of the United States, talking about how Connect4Climate can be a unique platform—especially the world’s youth—to help tackle climate change.
From Kenya to Lithuania to Colombia, Voices4Climate competition winners from 116 countries have received their prizes and certificates! We would like to again thank all of the participants for using their creative energy to document and share climate change stories.
The Connect4Climate team would like to express our sincere gratitude to all of the supporters, judges, partners, and participants who have helped make the Voices4Climate competition a success.
Rain Rain Go Away Come Again Another Day in Pakistan by Kainat Afsar.
Do You Have any Wheat to Grind? in Pakistan by Danish Khan.
Safeguarding the Next Generation in the UK by Susannah Peel.
Soil Erosion #1 in Uganda by Josephine Nakanwagi.
The City of Metals in Pakistan by Kainat Afsar.
Green Romanian in Romania by Razvan Lazarescu.
Budding Life in Sweden by Axel Kennedal.
Playing at Sunset in Croatia by Ivo Dukic.
At the End of Autumn, Winter Begins! in Iceland by Ingimar Skulason.
Cities 01 in South Sudan by Christena Dowsett.
Non Conventional Energy Power in India by Manthan Charles.
That's When I Came Back to Korea that I Learned How They Create Clouds in South Korea by Fabien Minh.
Daring to Invest in Uganda by Evanne Nowak.
Industry, Energy, Oil, Pollution in Iran by Behdad Rsl.
What Policymakers Should Know About Energy in Malawi by Patience Moyo.
Dry Swamp in Lithuania by Gabija Vyšniauskaitė.
Don't Cut Trees in the US by Kenneth Guerrero.
Planting Hope in the Philippines by Marian Ledesma.
Death of our Zambian Forests in Zambia by Nancy Saili.
Spring In, Winter Away in Bangladesh by Kimvutkimakar Suman.
Suffering of Woman in Morocco by Adil Moumane.
A Long Walk in Somalia by Anab Garad.
Wajir County in Kenya by Maash Sheik Hussein.
The Ambulance in Pakistan by Kainat Afsar.
Dumping Site in Kenya by Ray Blount.
Health 01 in South Sudan by Christena Dowsett.
Infested Environment in Malawi by Violet Moyo.
The Bride of River in Pakistan by Kainat Afsar.
Second Place
Adding Sunshine to the Sand in South Africa by Jason Hanslo.
A Day at the Office in Mozambique by Joana Simões Piedade.
Talent + Environment = Employment in Cameroon by Ngalim Njaiwo.
Youth Queue for Green Jobs in the UK by Adela Nistora.
Goodbye to the Beautiful Pond in Indonesia by Haries Ramdhani.
Where is My Drop of Water? in India by Arpan Vyas.
Water & Child in India by Manthan Charles.
La Sequía in Colombia by Oliver A Olivella.
I Don't Believe in Global Warming in Italy by Stefano Cetalo Geronimo.
Drinking Problem in Namibia by Joana Simões Piedade.
Speechless in Norway by Sich Rich.
A Cashmere Story in Mongolia by Prl Jay.
Downstream in Belgium by Roel Nollet.
A Changing World in Trinidad and Tobago by Stephon Gabriel.
Green As Love in Singapore by Andy Chong.
We Be in Nigeria by Idamiebi Ilamina-Eremie.
Formula in Portugal by Filipe Pinto.
Trash Maniac in the US by Muntasir Mamun.
The Voices4Climate competition has officially come to a close, and our panel of esteemed judges has begun the gargantuan task of looking over more than one thousand music videos, photos, and videos on climate change. The Connect4Climate team would like to extend our thanks to all of the part
Julie Allen is Creative Director for Social Responsibility at Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN). In this role she is responsible for the strategic and creative development of pro-social media campaigns across all platforms for VIMN - this includes long and short form on-air programming, events and digital content. Julie is co-creator of MTV Voices, MTV's global pro-social platform for the millennial generation.
Dawuni has leveraged his popularity across the African continent to bring his unique Afro Roots sound to global audiences and champion social causes. Over the course of his career, and the release of five albums, his infectious grooves and dance-inducing anthems have consistently excited fans, including some of music's biggest stars with whom he's performed and collaborated. Having appeared at many of the biggest World and Reggae music events, Dawuni has worked alongside superstars Stevie Wonder, Peter Gabriel, Jason Mraz, Sharon Jones, and Janelle Monae.
Dawuni's activism reached new heights when he was recently invited to meet with Ghana's top leaders on a broad range of issues and was appointed the country's Tourism Ambassador and World Music Ambassador for the Musician's Union of Ghana. He was just announced as an Ambassador for the UN Foundation's Global Alliance For Clean Cookstoves, joining ambassadors Julia Roberts and Chef Jose Andres to raise awareness. These efforts are in addition to his ongoing involvement with Product (RED), UNICEF, the Carter Center & the UN Foundation. In 2012, Rocky was also chosen by CNN as one of the top ten African musicians alongside Youssou N'Dour and Cesaria Evora and was featured on CNN's African Voices.
See our full post on Rocky Dawuni here.
Rachel Kyte is the former Vice President of Sustainable Development at the World Bank. She has overall responsibilities for the organization's global work in climate change, agriculture, environment, infrastructure, urban development, disaster management, and social development. Rachel chairs the MLT. She has held the VP position since September, 2011.
Prior to her appointment, Ms. Kyte had been Vice President for Business Advisory Services at the International Finance Corporation since 2008. From 2004, Ms. Kyte served as IFC's Director for Environmental and Social Development, where she led efforts to develop new sustainability performance standards. Through the Equator Principles, adapted by 70 commercial banks and 34 export guarantee agencies, these standards are now a global benchmark illustrating that improved environment and social standards can raise financial performance in emerging markets. Prior to joining IFC, she was a member of the management team of the World Conservation Union. She has held elected positions in Europe, and founded and led non-government organizations focusing on women, the environment, health, and rights.
Ms. Kyte was recently appointed as Professor of Practice in Sustainable Development at The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy in Boston. Ms. Kyte holds a MA in International Relations from The Fletcher School, and a BA in politics and history from the University of London.
Cedella Marley is an accomplished singer, author, fashion designer, and entrepreneur. The first-born of Bob and Rita Marley, she has combined her multifaceted creativity with her family legacy to champion causes such as reducing maternal mortality, access to safe drinking water, and protecting the environment.
The world first met Cedella as a singing and dancing teenager with The Melody Makers, the Marley sibling group which, over two decades, has sold millions of albums and won three Grammy Awards. Cedella continues to record and is currently at work on her debut album, produced by her brothers Ziggy and Stephen. Cedella balances the responsibilities of motherhood (she and her husband have three sons) with the management of the Marley family's numerous business endeavors and the demands of designing her celebrated women's casual wear collection 'Catch A Fire.' She is the CEO of Tuff Gong International, the record label founded by her father in 1965 and director of The Bob Marley Foundation, a non-profit charitable organization. She oversees Hope Road Merchandising, LLC, a Marley family entity that manages the rights to Bob's name and likeness, and the Marley merchandising conglomerate House of Marley. Cedella also helms1Love.org, the family's recently launched social networking/charity foundation which is working to channel the energy of Bob Marley's 37 million Facebook "friends" into positive work and charitable causes.
See our full post on Cedella Marley here.
Kenny Young has written and produced more than 25 chart records, including the Grammy Award-winning song, 'Ai No Corrida' and 'Under the Boardwalk.' He received the United Nations Global 500 Award for outstanding practical achievements in the protection and improvement of the environment as co-founder of the Earth Love Fund. He co-produced the Hollywood Genesis Award-winning film 'Spirit of the Forest,' a BBC-TV documentary feature about the destruction of the Amazon, and wrote a benefit record of the same name, which was released by Virgin Records and featured over 50 major international artists.
Founder and Music Producer at Artists Project Earth (APE), he is the creative force that has engineered five highly successful 'Rhythms del Mundo' charity albums in support of over 300 climate change projects around that world that feature Coldplay, Bob Dylan, Eminem, Radiohead, U2, Amy Winehouse, The Rolling Stones, Beyonce, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Mumford & Sons, and many other renowned international artists.
