Youth Bring Success to COP16

Finally, some tangible success at COP16!

The first major consensus decision between nations was reached with the help of more than 100 young people from around the world.

Article 6, as it’s called in the UN text, ensures that education for sustainable development is supported –  especially outreach education by youth nongovernmental organizations, such as the Scouts. The policy also ensures equity, sustainability and opportunity to young people and women from all backgrounds and cultures.

Its adoption by UN negotiators last Friday constituted a victory for transparency and representation on the international stage.

It also strengthens civil society’s involvement in high-level decisions on climate change.

For youth leaders, it was the realization of more than five months work on crafting policies that would appeal to all nations to achieve tangible gains for youth, women and non-formal educational organizations.

Young people from around the globe gathered to observe and participate in the official discussions, giving a rousing applause when it passed.

Danny Hutley from the United Kingdom Youth Climate Coalition praised Article 6’s passage, telling the world that Article 6 now meant, “No decisions about us, without us.”

Delagations from around the world were in full support of the propositions, with a delegate from the Dominican Republic even declaring,“When all these young people are expecting an outcome we have to stop fighting over details.  We must reach a decision now.”

Robert Owen-Jones, chair of the UN’s Subsidiary Body on Implementation (SBI), who oversaw these negotiations, hailed Article 6 as a “good decision.”

Jones met with international youth Monday and said this success highlights that “young people are potent agents of change.”

Youth active in Article 6 policies included delegates from international organizations such as the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, the British Council, the Federation of Medical Students, the European Youth Forum, United Kingdom Youth Climate Coalition and Spire (Norway), along with many others.

Photo via UNFCCC.