For a detailed overview of our time, please find Part 1 of the New York Update here.
The Youth4Nature delegation to New York for the UN Climate Action Summit comprised of 12 young professionals from 10 countries: Kazazkhstan, Ukraine, Kenya, Nigeria, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Brazil, Mexico, the United States and Canada!
Our diverse team of young nature and climate leaders all had unique experiences particular to their interests, policy experience, and regional networks. So, what did we think of the New York Climate Week and UN Climate Action Summit?
While the largest rainforest on Earth burned, the Brazilian government neglected in the United Nations how to respond to stop illegal deforestation.
Days before the UN Climate Summit in New York, the world watched the devastating destruction of the most famous rainforest in the world. The rising number of fires in the Amazon was the result of illegal land clearing for cattle farming. Fires are set deliberately and spread easily in the dry season. Only this year, forest fires in Brazilian Amazonia has increased 40% with monthly records of deforestation rate. Although the catastrophic situation resulted in ephemeral international donation campaigns, suggestions of supply chain interventions and threats of economic sanctions, the Brazilian government has yet demonstrated any clear mechanism to address the roots of the illegal farming practices.
Almost a decade for achieving the internationally agreed targets of the Paris Commitment, the UN proposed a Climate Summit focused on how governments are promoting real actions for meeting the national goals by 2030. The Summit last September held in New York had the intention to demonstrate inspiring global attitudes to combat the climate crisis new ambitious goals to upscale mitigation and adaptation strategies.
Brazil did not have a speech at the Climate Summit simply because the country had nothing positive to showcase for the world. At the same time, the critical environmental and socioeconomic situations in the Amazon were also left behind. The Brazilian government had no official representation in the negations that unlocked the investment of U$ 500 million for tropical forests. France’s president acknowledged the absence of the Brazilian government as a waste of opportunity for developing conservation and restoration strategies in the Amazon.
However, Brazil used to position itself as a global leader in rainforest conservation. The country set a robust set of national institutions to ensure the implementation of its ambitious restoration target of 12.5 million hectares and stop illegal deforestation by 2030. Despite the environmental regulations have historically been constantly threatened by lobbying from powerful commercial interests, the current Brazilian politics shifted to a polarized attitude against ecosystem conservation and indigenous rights. Since the election of the ultra-conservative politician Jair Bolsonaro as president in 2018, the environmental agenda has suffered a huge structural change. The national government has pressured the environment and indigenous communities in the Amazon by commercial interest groups emboldened by the changing political situation.
The opening of the UN General Assembly by Brazil’s president was the evidence of what in the previous day the Swedish teen activist Greta Thunberg powerfully speech described as ‘you are failing us’. At a very critical time for Brazil's economy and environment, Bolsonaro proved in New York your governmental incapacity to develop collaboration to solve critical issues. His speech strengthened violence and threats against nature and minorities groups. The president exalted the nationalism, criticized the international media, and named opponents countries as colonialists. Controversially, he argued for a “natural” causes of rainforest fires and against indigenous land demarcation.
The indigenous leader and environmentalist Raoni Metuktire, nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize 2019, was criticised and described by Bolsonaro as “manipulated by international governments”. In his answer, Raoni said that ‘he [Bolsonaro] is not a leader and he needs to leave’. The Indigenous People Articulation (APIB) in New York also responded to the president's attacks with a total aversion to his statements and the risks that create to the Amazon and indigenous peoples.
Differently what could be expected in the global negotiations, little progress has been made for addressing the urgent problems in Amazonia. The private sector and non-governmental organisations held an event in New York for strategies to stop illegal deforestation. The event named ‘Possible Amazon’ also had the presence of the Minister of the Environment to debate mostly interventions in the supply chains. A group of 30 scientists also launched a specific Panel on Amazon Research to identify critical environmental issues and sustainable development strategies for the region.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHaE1g3XK6U
The status quo for actions in the Amazon must not be kept too longer, the global answers towards those issues tend to be more critical with possible economic losses for Brazil. The COP25 in Chile can be a turning point for establishing sanctions for countries that are not following the international agreements.
Danilo Ignacio de Urzedo, Storyteller | Brazil
There is power in showing your true feelings.
I’ve never attended a UN event before the experience in New York. One thing led to another and before I knew it, I was part of my country’s official delegation at the UN Climate Action Summit. I can proudly say my country was one of the few who responded to SG António Guterre’s request for countries to include youth in their delegations. I can even more proudly say that I was welcomed in through a democratic selection process.
Before being there I wasn’t sure what to expect. In my mind, countries would be discussing with each other what they would do to tackle climate change, delegates would agree or disagree and there would be negotiation. It wasn’t quite like this. Instead, from 9 am to approx. 7 pm there were a series of themed panels where mandatories (presidents, prime ministers and CEOs) would give short speeches about what their country or company has committed to do to tackle the climate crisis. The panel that struck most with public outside the General Assembly room was probably the youth panel where Greta, along two other youth, spoke.
There is power in showing your true feelings. This is what made Greta different from other speakers. She silenced the room and... she made me cry. I was too ashamed to look around to see if any one was reacting the same way I did, but she made me feel the power in my indignation and that has ignited a flame that will be hard to tame.
She wasn’t the only one showing her genuine disenchantment. There was a panel on Small Island Developing States (SIDS) where the president of Barbados took her time, in the dislikeness of the moderator, to emphasize how SIDS are the least contributing to this crisis but are feeling the greatest consequences while hardly receiving enough disaster aid from those who are contributing the most.
In the panel of Least Developed Countries, it was a relief to hear Bhutan say they don’t mind if they are considered as least developed by the rest of the world because that is not how they measure the well-being of their people and that they are the only carbon negative country in the world.
It was interesting to notice only few countries mentioned that we need to change our behaviour as a society if we really want to tackle the issue. These countries were mostly northern countries. Merkel recognized that Germany is responsible for 2% of the world’s emissions, and while this doesn’t seem much, she admitted that considering Germany holds only 1% of the population, this amount of emissions reflects a society with unsustainable livelihoods. It was nice to see she is able to recognize an opportunity to do even more.
Among a lot of commitment, a few of the statements worried me. Several countries spoke about biofuels as a solution, my concern is that these biofuels come from agricultural crops putting more pressure on land use change for agriculture. Also, many others spoke of planting millions trees. My concern is that without proper funding assigned to the maintenance of those trees a high percentage of them will die or even worse that these efforts translate into monocultures of exotic species which rather than help, will contribute to biodiversity loss and degradation of ecosystem services.
Overall, this experience gave me a global overview of where the atmosphere around climate change is taking us and what the mood of leaders is around the world. This experience offered a balanced diet for brain and heart, and it will translate into a delicious dish of climate action.
Vania Olmos Lau, Regional Coordinator for Latin America & Caribbean | Mexico
Racing to make the sustainable world we need.
When I got the successful email as a regional coordinator for Africa under Youth4Nature, I remember vividly the glow that surrounded my face. Yes, a glow full of hope, and the zeal to stand up to the occasion. My belief in Youth leadership on Environmental Advocacy & meaningful engagement was to be well channeled in this new mandate.
Specifically, I was well aware of the continental hurdles that Africa faces, and so for me, was to use this platform to rally & campaign for youth engaged in nature-based solutions to the climate issues of the century.
Alongside my able team, it has been a year of learning, relearning & connecting to the amazing things youths are engaging on in the environment
It has been a moving period to see just how issues of land restoration, fighting for the protection of forest biodiversity, Water life, and adherence to reducing carbon footprints is a purpose most young people, and especially from Africa, are living for.
We engage mainly on Storytelling, Knowledge sharing via webinars, and On-Ground capacity building. This culminates in the UN Secretary Generals Summit in New York, where we will amplify the Youth stories and share it amongst leaders at the Global stage.
Our aim is simple: that in the search for Climate Solutions, Political leaders & indeed other leaders, cannot forget youth, and definitely, they cannot also forget Nature. These stories are a living proof of how youth are leading in the fight against climate change. Innately, I believe it is mostly due to the moral obligation that we the youth have realized; that former generations have failed us, but we cannot fail the future generations. We are probably the only generation that has grown up in a destroyed environment, in a chaotic climate System, yet we are faced with the challenge of reversing the situation. And this, we cannot do alone, neither can the political leaders do it without us.
Simply put: we the youth have the numbers, we have the Creativity & we have the energy. We have also learned of what threat humanity is facing today. Therefore, it is only in the interest of the planet & humanity that youth voice is recognized, and youth are given their rightful place at the table. Because the experience from the old can be complimented with innovation & creativity from Young people.
In the End, my anticipated outcomes from the UNSG summit & UN Youth Climate Summit are; Adoption of NBS to solve climate & ecological crises, Financing of youth initiatives engaging in NBS, Climate advocacy & Innovations(sustainably Food Production, and Energy Transition. That is a win for nature & for humanity.
In NYC, Friday 20th, we joined over 250,000 youth & active citizens in NY streets to protest against climate change, climate denialism, & climate irresponsibility from political leaders and businesses. Ending at Foley Square, the message was clear, we want climate Action Now. This event was persnal to me since I have been a mobilizer & an organizer for peaceful strikes back in Kenya. Here, I saw hope, I saw a people,both young & old determined to demand a better world, I saw unity for the planet, for nature, for the people. This could not be reiterated any further during the UNSG summit, as the clarion call was real; We Must Act on Climate Change Now. And to me, this was just but the beginning of a new dawn for the world, an action oriented decade on ecosystem restoration. I am acting, are you?
Paul Mutuku, Regional Coordinator for Africa | Kenya
The New York Empire State of Mind.
You probably all heard the song the "Empire State Of Mind" from Jay-Z feat. Alicia Keys once in your life. You know, how they catchy sing ”New York, concrete jungle where dreams are made of there's nothin' you can't do”.. Well, being in New York, marching for our climate, attending the UN Youth Summit, the UN Nature-Based Solutions Momentum and the Nature4Climate Hub, I’ve never seen the similarities between magic vibe of New York and the environmental movement so clearly before.
Between 18-29 September, New York provided the world stage that desires to boost ambition and accelerate actions to implement the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. Looking back into history, there have been tons of high-level events like this, since the Club of Rome published their report The Limits to Growth in 1972. I question how these events have helped the world.
I am attending the UN Climate Summit, because Youth4Nature has selected me as ‘Youth leader on Nature-Based Solutions representing the Western Europe region’. This was the first time that I attended a UN Summit. It felt impressive, also because the level of security is a bit intriguing, and also a bit weird. The meeting setup is as follows; every leader, from government, business and civil society, is asked to speak for 3 minutes. They basically explain what they are doing or are planning to do about the topic of the meeting. What is weird is that it is not really a meeting, there is no exchange of ideas or feedback.
But about this Summit, I am optimistic. For the first time, millions of people all over the world joint climate strikes and are raising their voices louder than ever before. Youth, parents, people, now actively stand up and demand their political leaders to act. And it is noticed. The ‘world leaders’ referred multiple times to the youth protests in their speeches.
That gives me the empire state of mind. The lights and streets in New York are exciting. But you know, coming together as one, striving for our future, gives me the empire state of mind all the time! There is this atmosphere that is so motivating to do something good for the world. The discussions that we have are so inspiring! We can do more with this energy, our will and knowledge are so powerful! Please join Youth4Nature and do something to combat this climate and ecological crisis. Stand up, connect, share your knowledge and ideas, and act! We are in this together and we need to continue to raise our voice.
Amanda Krijgsman, Storyteller | The Netherlands
This is, finally and forever, our moment.
Some form of the environmental movement has existed for generations, yet it has remained siloed and isolating for many. Our moment in NYC was perfect because it changed that.
We are growing concurrently with social media. We are shaping these tools of communication and they in turn shape us. Within seconds, we can virtually transport ourselves to an ecosystem or culture we’ve never experienced. We can read the blog posts or watch the video diaries of people we’ve never met, then connect with them and have conversations in real time. Through the internet, I’ve read about the lived experiences of people who look, identify, think, and believe differently than I do, thereby expanding my understanding of my own life and my empathy for people I’ll never meet.
As a result of this information at our fingertips, today’s young people grow up in a world of interconnectedness, of dissolving boundaries and blurred labels. We understand more deeply the humanity and similarity between ourselves and those very different from us and are raised to celebrate those differences. We see each other’s faces, hear each other’s voices, feel each other’s emotions.
With this knowledge comes a responsibility. Before the internet, before instant communication, it was easy to remain isolated and focus inward. Now, it’s almost impossible. Since we are constantly bombarded by others’ stories, and because we are raised with a sense of deep compassion, we actively seek to learn more and raise the voices of people our own cultures have taken advantage of or robbed.
The Youth4Nature delegation is a beautiful example of the power of social media bringing people of unimaginably different backgrounds together to celebrate our shared passion and protect what’s of utmost importance.
I was struck by the fact that each of us grew up with an appreciation of the sun warming our skin, the taste of the breeze across our lips, and the feel of the leaves between our fingers. Although maybe I shouldn’t have been surprised. Nature, even the degraded and ever-disappearing version we know, holds some of our fondest childhood memories and a significant part of our hearts and happiness. We know its value for humanity because we were raised by parents who forgot that value, choosing instead the intangibles of money and power.
We see our natural world slipping away and feel an obligation – no, a need – to grasp at and nurture what’s left, since we have the data to know that this planet does not need us. We know that, in fact, it could go on forever (or at least until the sun extinguishes its flame) evolving to develop new, more intricate patterns and cycles and relationships even better without us.
Finally, we’re old enough to realize what’s happening and stop it. Fortunately, we’re also still young enough to educate and inspire those younger than us. We’re using the technology our parents and grandparents created for money and power to rip apart the systems of oppression they built to maintain that money and power.
We have the knowledge, we have the modes of communication, and we have the passion to change the world we grew up in for the better. We amplify voices from formerly remote civilisations all over this planet, from Sweden to Amazonia, using social media, demanding that they be heard.
In New York, we finally got the platform that we deserve. But speaking in front of the United Nations is just the beginning. They have no power without us, the people. We are strong, we have a clear vision, we are empowered by the science, and we will not stop fighting.
Emma Thornton, Coordination Associate | USA
Common climate actions and NBS will resolve climate catastrophe.
UN Youth Climate Summit it was my first experience of such big international environmental event. I had an opportunity to talk during SDG Media Zone about the security of environmental activists. As it’s a highly sensitive topic for me, and one of the reason I also decided to participate in Youth4Nature delegation. For make sure to be heard in Ukraine, one of the most crucial moment of the day was my interview for Ukrainian media in UN headquarter. Unfortunately in my country eco-activists are not taken seriously and are sometimes aggressed. But when you hear in one session about climate migrants, I think there is nothing more horrible than this. We are losing home because of climate change, and we pay for the consequences. Every word that was pronounced during the day was so meaningful, truthful and hurtful. One of them I remember: “We don’t want adults to make decisions, but we want you to involve us in the process”. Youth need to be more active in political decision making, even if it isn’t simple, we need to participate in local elections. Young people should use our networks and all platforms to continue to fight.
How can we strengthen support for youth-led climate action? That was the topic of our workshop in afternoon. We discussed mostly about financing youth NGOs, how to participate in local decision making and how to work with the government. After our work in small groups we realized that adults don’t trust youth. But we also came up with lots of ideas, like: make an application/website with all foundations who is ready to finance youth NGOs; write tools for youth “how to submit for a financing program”; create Youth Climate Committee in each country. The workshop was an occasion to know closer some youth activist from all over the world and to work together.
During the session someone said that all stories of youth we hear are oftenjust about problems, and not about solutions. I was very proud to represent Youth4Nature, which made an incredible storytelling campaign on implementation of nature based solutions in different countries by youth. Common climate actions and NBS will resolve climate catastrophe.
Iris Del Sol, Storyteller | Ukraine
The world will no longer be as it was before.
Climate week in New-York was full of enthusiastic people, interesting ideas and different projects implemented in different corners of the world. On September 21, for the first time in UN history, a youth summit on climate change was held. This summit was attended by more than 300 (out of 7,000 applications for participation) young ecologists, eco-entrepreneurs and activists, Greta Thunberg, as well as UN Secretary General António Guterres, Prime Ministers and Ministers of OECD countries. A competition of eco-projects among youth was held. UN Secretary General António Guterres sat around one table with youth from different parts of the world to discuss climate change issues in the region.
For me this was also the first time when I took part in a peaceful march of schoolchildren and students on the streets of New York with demands to take effective measures to combat climate change.
Nature for Climate organized a nature’s hub where all panel discussions and workshops on nature-based solutions were held. At the nature’s hub was a workshop on soil improvement, on methods to restore soil fertility, which will completely change the course of events, and is an excellent solution for desertification problems. In the nature’s hub an ECCA30 project was announced for the countries of the Caucasus and Central Asia, within the framework of which it is planned to restore and increase covered by trees area by 30 million hectares by 2030.
On September 25, as part of the climate week, there was a panel discussion on carbon mapping, i.e. places that store carbon, such as peatlands, but are not regulated by national and international regulations. Fires in such places leads to the release of carbon into the atmosphere and increases the greenhouse effect. I was a speaker on this panel discussion, discussed and answered questions from the audience about how to regulate and integrate it into the climate change legislation, and how to prevent the use of forests for heat generation purposes.
Agriculture is one of the largest contributors to climate change, and now mankind is facing challenge to grow more food without increasing the amount of land used and reducing the use of water and pesticides. FAO organized an evening event dedicated to the future of agricultural sector with scientists, farmers and youth.
A lot has happened over the past 8 days, workshops, networking, ideas, practical solutions. Key points and highlights:
● In addition to preventing greenhouse emissions, it is important to prevent fires in carbon sinks like peatlands, forests. Those areas of the forest where indigenous communities and minority communities live were preserved in good condition without fire. In this regard, there is a vision that these communities can better manage forests than the Government. And for a significant contribution to the conservation of nature, such communities from Peru and Indonesia were awarded.
● It is important to apply nature based solutions to keep temperature increase within 1.5C. To do this, it is required to increase the green areas by restoring forests and planting trees, and for this, first of all, it is important to restore health of soil. And this will solve the problem by 30%.
● In parallel with this, it is necessary to apply technical solutions for clean production and introduce such requirements in the legislation that makes it beneficial for companies to clean emissions and decrease discharges.
● Agriculture in using innovative technologies lags behind other industries, and now more than ever before, humanity has the task of growing more using less land, less pesticides, less water.
To achieve these goals, it is important to have innovative knowledge, and it is important to educate farmers.
Climate week in New-York was a great experience, and atmosphere was amazing. The world will no longer be as it was before.
Laura Malikova, Storyteller | Kazakhstan
We are thrilled to launch the "Narratives of Change" campaign, collecting stories from youth globally through an open call, emphasizing their experiences with climate change, biodiversity, and human mobility. Learn more and submit your story!