Vox Pops With the Global Youth

During the final days of the UN climate talks (COP17) youth were keeping their hopes up for an ambitious deal. I asked a few about their COP17 experiences and where it would go from here.

What would you like to see come out of COP17?

Kate Catlin (21), SustainUS – United States of America

“The Green Climate Fund. It’s going to be an empty shell, not as fair as we had hoped, so I have mixed feelings about it. I’m satisfied enough with it, not to set myself on fire, but not completely satisfied.I’ve learned a lot about how the negotiations work and realised how tied down people like Jonathan Pershing and Nicholas Stern are by congress. It all comes down to what you do in your own community which has made me very passionate about the Robin Hood Tax and the justice it can provide. I will campaign it in my own country.”

Tim Hall (21), The Verb – Australia

“Ambition, equity and no more delay. Ideally I want to see a global treaty that binds nations to cut emissions with short and long term vision. In the absence of that, I would like to see ambitious goals for the second commitment period to the Kyoto Protocol, while a roadmap to the creation of a fair and ambitious binding treaty by 2015 at the latest. There also needs to be mechanisms for financing, technology and capacity-building because we have already passed the mark of no return.”

Sophie Lashford (24), British Council – China

“A roadmap for a legally binding agreement that ties in all countries – without compromise into a weaker agreement. I think it will give enough certainty and aid people’s trust in the UNFCCC process.”

What has been a highlight of your COP17?

Hilary Bowman (20), Australian Youth Climate Coalition – Australia

“When Abigail Borah, a Middlebury College student from SustainUS stood up in the Official Negotiations and spoke on behalf of the United States. Sometimes we can forget that we don’t need to be timid. We need to say: ‘This is not okay’.”

Richard Parker (23), BlueBuck Network – South Africa

“The Global Day of Action Rally has been a highlight of COP for me. Additionally, seeing the extent and variety of commitment of many different people around the world, especially the youth, in tackling climate change.

Demonstrations like the Global Day of Action are necessary because government and corporations are trying to claim the voice of the majority. They are implying that the majority of the youth don’t care. These actions show that this is not true. A significant number of people are already impacted by climate change.”

What will you take home from COP17?

Sarah Rifaat (27), 350.org – Egypt

‘A deeper understanding of what still needs to be done. There will definitely be better cooperation and collaboration between me, my co-workers and other organisations. We are solidifying the global movement. I hope to bring good news to Egypt and build on that back home. There has been lots of talk around the impacts of climate change on Egypt at COP17.”

Nisengwe Regis (24), We Have Faith Climate Justice Caravans – Rwanda

“Only during COP17 did I realise that Africa’s survival from climate change pressures will always heavily depend on the decisions that developed countries will take, and sadly enough some countries (Mainly US) seem to impede the progress of the negotiations.”