Young People Step Up Pressure on World Leaders to Seal Climate Deal

Tuesday, 25 August 2009 06:48

Rallies in 100 cities will be organized by young people across the world as part of a major push to persuade governments to Seal a meaningful Deal at the crucial UN climate convention meeting in Copenhagen in just under 110 days time.

Youth delegates pledged to keep global warming high on the international agenda as the Tunza International Youth Conference on Climate Change ended Sunday in Daejeon, Republic of Korea.

"Climate change is the greatest threat we are facing in the 21st century, and many countries are vulnerable. If we the children and youth don't act now, we cannot be sure there will be a future for us, for future generations. We want to make sure that future generations will inherit a better place to live in," outgoing Tunza Youth Advisory Board member, 22-year old Jessie James Marcellones from the Philippines, said.

Regional Action Plans, agreed during the conference and covering Asia and the Pacific, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, North America, and West Asia include:

    * Mobilizing youth for the upcoming UN climate change meeting that opens on 7 December in the Danish capital;

    * Reaching out to other environmental groups, especially during the September 21-25 Climate Week;

    * Educating others about the Copenhagen meeting on campuses, in school and among churches, sports teams and more;

    * Letter-writing, phone banking, visiting officials to 'Seal the Deal';

    * Social Networking through the Unite for Climate, Facebook, Twitter and other e-fora;

    * College campaigns and tree planting initiatives.

The 220 youths, aged 15-24, were joined by 580 children in Daejeon City in South Korea. It has been the largest conference of young people on climate change ever.

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