• Commonwealth:
• Act now or face catastrophic consequences later

Participants at the Roundtable discussion at Marlborough House, London, on 12 August 2008.

Act now or face catastrophic consequences later

19 August 2008

Representatives from youth organisations met at the Commonwealth’s headquarters to address threats posed by climate change

A roundtable discussion hosted by the Commonwealth Youth Programme took place at Marlborough House, London, on International Youth Day 2008.

Twelve young people from youth organisations across the United Kingdom discussed the role youth can play in addressing the threats posed by climate change. They were asked for their input on what the Commonwealth Youth Programme's top priorities should be relating to climate change as well as proposed strategies to achieve these aims.

At the opening of the discussion, Dr Indrajit Coomaraswamy, Director of Economic Affairs at the Commonwealth Secretariat, told participants: "If we do not act quickly and decisively as a global community now, in your lifetime, there will certainly be catastrophic consequences."

Suggestions from the group included encouraging schools, churches, and communities to increase their involvement as well as making targeted appeals to a wide range of groups by making the effects of climate change relevant for them.

They also suggested providing financial incentives for young people to create sustainable and climate-friendly businesses; sending electronic signatures to politicians to elicit support for change; and using so-called social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace to spread information and generate increased awareness and interest in climate change.

One of the participants was Jacob Rix, a 17-year-old member of the British Youth Parliament. "I think that climate change is perhaps the biggest challenge facing our generation. It is going to be us that live with the consequences, not the adults," he said.

"We need to start taking action now. It's the little things we do like turning off our light switches, putting the television on standby, but also putting pressure on governments and international organisations that can actually reduce our carbon footprint."

Melody Hossaini, Project Officer of the National Youth Agency, who was also present throughout the day, added: "We never can underestimate the power that we can hold, the difference that we can make.

"What it comes down to is that I am responsible, you are responsible and we are responsible. Not just government, not just policy-makers on climate change. It's everybody."

Many of the views expressed by the participants will be relayed to Commonwealth education ministers when they meet in June 2009.

The Commonwealth Foundation will also create spaces for young people on a soon-to-be-created Environment Commission so that their views can be included.

"We want to feed some of your recommendations about how to effectively engage young people more in this debate into this commission," said Vijay Krishnarayan, Deputy Director of the Foundation.

Their recommendations will also guide the Commonwealth Youth Programme's new four-year strategic plan, which is currently being drafted.