"There is no issue that I think more threatens the future of our generation than global warming," said Billy Parish, 24, coordinator of Energy Action, a coalition of 30 environmental and social justice organizations in North America.The conference web site also has a call for participation from young people around the world:
Parish, who left university to dedicate his time to the environment, will help the international youth team, made up of around 100 young people from 26 countries, to draft a statement to the UN conference.
"I think there will be a strong call for immediate action," he said. "It will make the point that we are the people who will live with the consequences of the decisions that they make."
Energy Action has also set up a Web site, www.itsgettinghotinhere.org, where young delegates will post blogs, video and pictures from Montreal.
Over 100 youth from around the world will meet in Montreal the weekend before the negotiations begin to develop the Youth Declaration. This Declaration will be presented to the official conference. However it is not just these 100 youth that get to decide on the Declaration - we would like to hear from you too! We are inviting youth from across Canada and around the world to input their views into the process. See our Declaration page to submit your views.I'm excited to see young people getting involved in this discussion; let's hope the delegates at next week's talks have enough sense to listen to their concerns...
Categories: climate change, UN, kyoto, talks, youth, Montreal, Canada
