Antinuclear

In Paris, youth push for climate action

‘If nothing’s done, we have to clean up the mess’: youth push climate action in Paris, SBS, 7 Dec 15  Young environmental advocates attending the Paris climate talks have warned if immediate and effective action is not taken to reduce carbon pollution, future generations will be left to ‘clean up the mess’. They could become the generation who’s left to clean up the mess in decades to come.

Or they could campaign hard for immediate and effective action on climate change.

That’s how they see it – the young environmental advocates attending the UN’s international climate change conference in Paris.And their numbers at such conferences are increasing rapidly – from a couple of hundred to around five thousand.

They hope their growing presence prompts action from global leaders.

Sarah Abo reports from Paris. With their drive and energy, the fresh, young faces attending the Paris climate change talks command attention.

When Bali hosted the United Nations summit in 2007, about 200 youth delegates attended the inaugural Youth Conference which preceded it. That grew to 1,500 in Copenhagen in 2009, and six years later, about 5,000 have ventured to the city of lights.

Twenty year old Jaden Harris, is one of the Australian Youth Climate Coalition’s five members accredited for the main event, COP21……..

Environment Minister Greg Hunt signed the Australian Youth Climate Coalition’s pledge to “do what it takes to ensure the survival of all countries and peoples”.

And that is something Indigenous Australians like Paul Gorrie hope Mr Hunt stands by.

The 24 year old Gunaikurnai man says he’s in Paris to protect the rights of his ancestors.

He says their lands have already felt the effects of climate change and are being destroyed by Australia’s coal mines.

“Our main concern is that we’re not being consulted, or allowed in these conversations, on what happens on Aboriginal land. We were the first scientists, and we have been looking after land for 60 thousand years sustainably, and we plan to do that for the next 60 thousand years.”

Maori New Zealander India Logan Riley says she too is concerned about native land being destroyed, and the challenges facing her community in adapting to changing landscapes.

“It’s going to happen, it’s a reality, A lot of sacred sites are going to disappear as well so it’s quite important that action is taken immediately. I’m scared, really, for what’s going to happen to my communities, and to my younger siblings as well.”

The vast beauty of Nepal isn’t immune either.

Twenty year old activist Sagar Aryal founded youth global movement the Sano Sansar Initiative when he realised government action wasn’t going far enough.

He doesn’t want the young left behind and is calling for climate justice……http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2015/12/07/if-nothings-done-we-have-clean-mess-youth-push-climate-action-paris

December 9, 2015 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | General News