Urgent support needed to ensure young Kiwi voices are heard at crucial climate talks

There are just ten days left to ensure that 1000's of messages from kiwi youth are carried to world leaders as they gather in Cancun, Mexico to try and negotiate a global climate treaty; 12 passionate young New Zealanders from all over the country have stepped up to carry the messages there but they need just ten more sponsors to ensure they can get those voices into the heart of power.

The New Zealand Youth Delegation has come up with a unique fundraising idea called Unfurl the Fronds. A ten metre long, 12-frond fern has been built, with handwritten messages from New Zealand youth on each frond. Each individual frond is available for sponsorship from $1,000-$3,000 each.

The frond messages are crafted from feedback gained while talking and inspiring up and down the country with over 1000 kiwi youth. The messages are vital in the climate change arena and will be carried to Mexico by our future leaders.

Independent charity, the Hikurangi Foundation, have bought the first frond and the second frond is being auctioned on Trade Me. Hikurangi's director, Liana Stupples, says supporting NZYD is a great hotline into not just international climate change negotiations, but also into young people in this country. "Who knows what President they're going to meet in the corridors over in Mexico," says Ms Stupples."Last year's delegation had a tofu burger with Yvo de Beur [former UN's top climate official] at a party."

Ms Stupples also says "We saw what a powerful experience it was for the young people who attended last year's talks - as a result they are already proving themselves to be leaders of their generation. We could not resist backing their fronds project to get youth voices heard - these guys are the All Blacks of the youth who care about the climate and their frond deserves support."

New Zealand Youth Delegation is a non-governmental, not-for-profit youth environmental organisation run by young people to empower New Zealand youth communities and advocate for a fair, ambitious and legally binding agreement at the annual UNFCCC Conference of the Parties.

Chelsea Robinson, 19, is part of the delegation. "People are always saying that 'our young people are the future'. Well, our future is right now. We leave in 10 days. If people have been waiting to support real change, we're it."

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