Youth United Against Climate Change!

Youth United Against Climate Change!

Greenpeace is very pleased to support and participate in the International Conference Of Youth 2 (COY2) and the African Youth Initiative On Climate Change (AYICC). Both conferences will be attended by 75 youth from Africa and beyond and will be held from 3-5 November 2006 in Nairobi, Kenya (venue: 680 Hotel), just before the United Nations Climate Change Conference.

The COY2 and AYICC projects propose to build on the successes of the youth engagement at the previous two climate change conferences and take advantage of the fact that this conference is the first to be held in the heart of Africa by seeking to develop the African youth capacity.

On one hand, participation in the youth summit will provide the African youth with the opportunity to develop and share their skills and tools. Thereby they will take part more efficiently in the international climate negotiations, as well as they will campaign more actively at the local and national levels.

On the other hand, as the first African youth initiative against climate change, Greenpeace will assist the AYICC to establish itself and to get connected to the growing movement of youth around the world equally concerned about their future.

Young people, especially in developing countries, will be most affected by climate change impacts. Decisions made (or not made!) by politicians and industry today will impact severely upon the young generation. That is why Greenpeace encourages young people all around the world to get organized and act against climate change.
Through its Solar Generation project, Greenpeace already trains and supports students in 13 Northern and Southern countries to convince their universities to reduce energy consumption and install or purchase renewable energy on campuses.

By making concrete changes themselves in their local environment, SolarGeneration students are setting example for other people and demand politicians do the same. Representatives of the SolarGeneration have now gathered here in Nairobi, to attend the Conference of Youth and the UN conference, to share experiences and engender a marketplace where the youth can voice their concerns as the future leaders.

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