NHNZ Filmmaker to Attend Asian Young Leaders Climate Forum

NHNZ production intern Jinty MacTavish has been chosen to document a forum of young people seeking solutions on climate change at an event being held in parallel with the United Nation’s annual climate change conference.

The Asian Young Leaders Climate Forum (AYLCF) will be held in Bogor (Indonesia) from December 3-14 to look at how young people can contribute to climate security. The focus will be on demonstrating what young people can do to make a difference, whether through communicating the issues or taking direct action to help the environment where they live and work.

NHNZ staffer Jinty MacTavish, who joined the Dunedin-based production company as an intern following completion of Otago University’s postgraduate course in natural history filmmaking, has been selected to document the forum. New Zealand will be represented by Lisa Johnston and Rebecca Clements.

AYLCF participants will build an action plan to present at the UNFCCC’s Conference of the Parties (COP 13) in Bali which is being held at the same time. COP 13 is being touted as one of the last chances for world leaders to avert irreversible and potentially catastrophic climate changes. The plan will then be implemented across the region with support of domestic and regional partners.

Ms MacTavish says she is excited about the opportunity to attend the forum.

“Like the forum’s organisers, I believe that young people have an important role to play in finding solutions to climate change – after all, we’re the ones who will have to live with the consequences of inaction in the future.”

Earlier this year, Ms MacTavish travelled to Greenland to make a short film on the impact of climate change there as part of the Royal Society and Freemasons sponsored Big Science Adventure. The resulting short film, produced with the help of three Otago Girls’ High School students, made its debut at the Royal Society of New Zealand’s recent Science Awards Dinner.

AYLCF is organised by the British Council and WWF. Around 30 young people from 13 countries across East Asia will attend with some also going on to represent the group at COP 13 in Bali.

ENDS

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