Young people from across the world have today taken
a stand, refusing to accept the prospect of a toothless treaty from leaders
that claim to represent them. With their future under threat, young people are
making their presence felt and their voices heard at the UN climate talks in
Durban, South Africa.
As climate talks heat up in the second week, some nations are still uncertain about extending the Kyoto Protocol (KP), which is set to expire at the end of 2012. This treaty - the only treaty ever to commit nations to legally binding targets on greenhouse gas emissions - provides essential stability for continued action on climate change. A void in international agreements could prove fatal for people and communities across the planet. Young people are calling for a second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol to be implemented immediately to provide a bridge to a new, more comprehensive climate treaty by 2015.
Tom Youngman, 18, from Bath, UK said: “A second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol is essential. The leaders of polluting nations have run out of excuses. We are running out of time. We need a legally binding agreement now to ensure a safe future for us and future generations. The Kyoto Protocol isn’t perfect, but it serves as an essential bridge to a new more holistic treaty. Under its watchful eye we’ve seen a transition in the way we live our lives - being ‘green’ is now thoroughly mainstream. It is essential leaders work together today to sign this treaty and protect our future. We stand with the leaders of vulnerable states that struggle to get their voice heard at these conferences when making this statement.”
This week hundreds of young people have flooded the Durban conference centre playing host to COP17, the UN’s annual climate summit, donning t-shirts emblazoned ‘I ♥ KP’. Even leading negotiators have worn ‘I ♥ KP’ t-shirts and ties, showing that support for this treaty is widespread. This support was echoed by a negotiator speaking on behalf of the Africa group, speaking in plenary, who stated: “We will not let African soil become the graveyard for the Kyoto Protocol.”
As climate talks heat up in the second week, some nations are still uncertain about extending the Kyoto Protocol (KP), which is set to expire at the end of 2012. This treaty - the only treaty ever to commit nations to legally binding targets on greenhouse gas emissions - provides essential stability for continued action on climate change. A void in international agreements could prove fatal for people and communities across the planet. Young people are calling for a second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol to be implemented immediately to provide a bridge to a new, more comprehensive climate treaty by 2015.
Tom Youngman, 18, from Bath, UK said: “A second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol is essential. The leaders of polluting nations have run out of excuses. We are running out of time. We need a legally binding agreement now to ensure a safe future for us and future generations. The Kyoto Protocol isn’t perfect, but it serves as an essential bridge to a new more holistic treaty. Under its watchful eye we’ve seen a transition in the way we live our lives - being ‘green’ is now thoroughly mainstream. It is essential leaders work together today to sign this treaty and protect our future. We stand with the leaders of vulnerable states that struggle to get their voice heard at these conferences when making this statement.”
This week hundreds of young people have flooded the Durban conference centre playing host to COP17, the UN’s annual climate summit, donning t-shirts emblazoned ‘I ♥ KP’. Even leading negotiators have worn ‘I ♥ KP’ t-shirts and ties, showing that support for this treaty is widespread. This support was echoed by a negotiator speaking on behalf of the Africa group, speaking in plenary, who stated: “We will not let African soil become the graveyard for the Kyoto Protocol.”
A recent report by the International Energy Agency (IEA) warned that we have five years to prevent irreversible changes in our climate and catastrophic impacts on humanity. Young people echo the report’s findings in stressing the urgency of the situation and the necessity of a second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol in Durban.
“The Maldives are already experiencing adverse impacts of climate change in the form of issues of food security, water scarcity and dengue epidemics. The economy is totally dependent on natural resources. Already the beaches on which we depend are eroding and coral reefs being bleached due to rise in sea surface temperatures.” said Aisha Niyaz, age 29, who has travelled from the Maldives to stand up for her and her community’s survival as part of global youth at the UN climate talks in Durban, South Africa. “The Maldives was the first country to raise the issue of climate change in a UN general assembly. Without new legally binding commitments to act on climate change, our nation is doomed. Its future would be non-existent.”
The omnipresence of the “I <3 KP” slogan is a symbolic call to negotiators to put politics aside and to remember what is at stake - lives and livelihoods of people and communities across the globe. By wearing the shirts throughout the negotiation halls, young people are reminding negotiators of the urgency in passing a fair, ambitious and binding climate treaty in Durban.
For futher information or to request a press advisory on tomorrow’s actions, contact:
Thomas Youngman, United Kingdom Youth Climate Coalition
thomas.youngman@ukycc.org, +27714877389
Follow YOUNGO on twitter @IYCM
Notes to editors:
- YOUNGO is the official name for the Youth Constituency at the United Nations climate talks - the UNFCCC. COP17 is the 7th Conference of the Parties, the annual high-level meeting of the UNFCCC.
- YOUNGO members are members of the International Youth Climate Movement who are accredited as observers at the UNFCCC. At COP15 in Copenhagen over 1,500 youth were present as accredited observers.
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Tom Youngman | COP17 Delegate | ukycc.org | facebook.com/
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