It’s Getting Hot In Here

As dawn broke on the island of Bali, Indonesia on December 3, 2007, I think something bigger than just the UN Climate Change negotiations were kicked off. As approximately 9,000 delegates from nearly every country in the world convene here, it is not going unnoticed the significance of this gathering taking place on the Asian continent. A lot more is on the table than just items like “adaptation,” “CDM,” or “Technology Transfer.” The inclusion and role of developing countries is as usual weighing heavily on the minds of the delegates and two countries, India and China–both on the Asian continent and making up 1/3rd of the global population–are considered exceptionally important in this process. We have all heard about the “Rise of Asia” and the pace at which the economies of India and China are galloping. Unfortunately not enough attention is given to the ecological implications of such rapid growth unless we are talking carbon emissions and climate change.

Aside from these important negotiations, the start of the conference has also signaled the coming together of youth from various parts of Asia. Many of them youth leaders and pioneers in the environmental movement in their respective countries–are now seizing this opportunity to building a stronger pan-Asian network for youth working on climate change and other environmental issues. It is evident that the rise of environmental consciousness is taking place across the Asian continent, perhaps in reaction to the onslaught on the local environments from haphazard development. I see myself in a unique opportunity as part of the US youth delegation (being a resident of the US) but also still a citizen of India to work with other Asian youth here and represent the voices of Indian youth with whom I have been interacting over the past 4 months in India. Voices of the youth from the global South are often under represented and though it is encouraging to see strong and committed youth from places like the global North, one must realize the importance having a similar contingent of youth from the global South. That is where we know we will need increasing environmental action as the countries rapidly develop in an effort to lift millions out of poverty.

There are youth from nine different Asian countries present including several islands of Indonesia (Bali, Java, and Bogor), Japan, Singapore, China, South Korea, Thailand, the Philippines, Nepal, India and with rumors of more. This evening the first informal “Asian Youth Caucus” took place to determine what steps will be taken to build and strengthen the coalition between youth working on climate change issues (and perhaps other environmental issues) from across the continent. The members come from backgrounds as diverse as forestry and management consulting to energy and nonprofit work, but they all have the same passion: to see action taken to combat climate change. Within the International Youth Caucus, it is obvious that there is more direction from those from North America and Australia, however concerted effort is being made to ensure that the voices of all youth are represented in the overall “youth vision.” Unfortunately, before the youth vision can include any discussion on the role of developing countries in emissions reductions, stronger representation of voices from the global South is necessary. Perhaps the a stronger voice in the form of an “Asian youth network for climate cooperation” might show the way. It could be quite similar to the “African Youth Initiative on Climate Change” which came out of the COP12 in Nairobi, Kenya last year.

Something similar is happening concurrently on the island of Bogor, Indonesia. A gathering of approximately 200 youth age 8-16 from across Asia are also convening to discuss climate change. Perhaps this is a movement that is gaining pace faster than one would imagine. Once youth around Asia are empowered through the network they can themselves begin to formulate the future of the continent and roles of Asian nations with regards to climate change. They are of course, Asia’s hope for the future.