Global Youth Statement on Climate Change

Listen to Our Voices
The Future Needs Strong Vision and Leadership

We, young people - 3 billion of the world population – are concerned and frustrated that our governments are not doing enough to combat climate change.

We feel that radical and holistic measures are needed urgently from us all.

We now need more actions and less talking.

Climate Change is affecting us all, and we need to find efficient ways to cope with it adapt to it and take action to stop it.

We note that climate change is leading to loss of natural resources and makes it difficult to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. Sea level rise, desert encroachment and warmer weather are affecting everyone and everything on the planet, especially small island states.

Climate change has serious consequences not only for ecosystems, but also for human health, job security and social development.

Together we CAN make a difference.

We Request Our Governments to:

• Agree on a more fair, just and action oriented post-Kyoto agreement adopted and implemented by all countries
• Have strict laws and enforcement against those who pollute and degrade the environment, coupled with education and incentives to protect the environment
  
• Develop and implement clearly defined carbon action plans and climate response strategies, which can be monitored and reviewed by an independent multi-national climate facility
• Transition toward a green economy based on renewable energies and offer more incentives for people to buy affordable energy efficient products
• Reduce the number of vehicles and traffic density on our roads, including improved and affordable public and pedestrian transport systems
  
• Make engaging environmental education mandatory in schools and universities and promote community environmental awareness - an informed public is a powerful public
• Pay attention to the conflicts that have developed throughout the world and the negative impact it has had on the environment and develop conflict resolution strategies
  
• Make it mandatory to include carbon and ecological footprint information in products
  
• Implement green energy and industry, including sustainable food production
  
• Support youth efforts to make a change in the world

We Appeal to All Citizens of this Planet to:

• Organize Civil Society to pressure governments to take short and medium term positive actions towards a global green economy.
  
• Develop and promote the infrastructure and use of public transportation and eco-friendly alternatives (eco cars, carpooling, public transit, biofuels or solar energy vehicles, legal and economic incentives to promote sustainable transportation such as biking or walking.)
  
• Use your rights, choices and awareness as consumers to pressure businesses, producers and governments to promote environmentally friendly products and eco-labeling policies (buy local seasonal products, avoid over-packaged and plastic products, purchase from eco-friendly companies)
  
• Enforce sustainable behaviors through the three Rs to protect natural resources from human impacts and promote environmental education.
  
• Plant more trees that absorb carbon dioxide emissions
  
• Engage in environmental campaigns and education to other citizens
  
• Commit to sustainable lifestyles to reduce your carbon footprint

As Young People, We Will:

• Actively commit to undertaking the above actions;
  
• Encourage our communities and as many people as possible to do the above individual actions;
  
• Expand our networks to reach out to other youth to organizations and networks to become involved;
  
• Take part in and/or initiate climate change rallies if capable (on 21 September, 24 October etc, locally and nationally) in run up to COP 15;
  
• Engage in environmentally friendly activities especially planting, nurturing and protection of trees;
  
• Exchange, connect and encourage best practices of young people on climate change;
• Communicate environment and climate change through the media and social networks like Uniteforclimate.org, Facebook and Twitter, and also develop environmental websites on climate change.
  
• Encourage schools and universities to become ecofriendly
  
• Support and promote the efforts of the UN Secretary General to Seal the Deal in Copenhagen.

Regional Action Plan

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.