The extremity of despair and hope marked my experience in Bali.
I felt despair because of Canada’s climate change policy and the behaviour of its delegation, which served as a diplomatic wrecking ball to the process of international collective action. Minister Baird’s flippancy towards the issue was made clear to me when he refused to meet with the Canadian Youth Delegation, or appear at his own side event to justify our national climate change plan, or when his Press Secretary told that me that our petition of 60,000 signatures was insubstantial.
I am not an expert of politics but my first foray into the field has been far from welcoming. If this is politics, I want nothing to do with it.
My Dad has cautioned me from sounding too grim when I describe my trip to Bali. Yes, an honest reflection of my experience necessitates a bleak description of Canada’s climate change policy, but I am simultaneously energized and hopeful by the emergent grassroots network.
With only four hours left in the conference and no agreement reached, three youth addressed the high-level plenary on behalf of international youth delegates. My friends spoke of rising sea levels submerging not just islands but culture and livelihoods, and they urged delegates to frame climate change as a moral and survival imperative. Challenging the traditional UN norms, they literally pointed their fingers at the countries blocking agreement.
In particular, the speech delivered by Karmila Karapassi from Indonesia has struck me. Her words were delivered with such strength and compassion that there was not a competing noise in the room. When Karmila said to the plenary “youth around the world are rising to the challenge,” all of the youth stood from their chairs with their hand raised, filling the room with their presence. Young people of all ages from all over the world stood together in silence, our eyes fixed on the negotiators whose decisions we would inherent.
Seeing viscerally, for the first time, the size of our dynamic youth movement filled me with a hope and a faith.
I have hope because countries like Canada, who neglect the Kyoto Process and the international community, have also catalyzed the emergence of a strong, mobilized, and powerful international youth community.
I have faith because the scope of the issue is so enormous that it forces us to rethink the way we live, and this gives us an opportunity.
As one youth said to a room full of negotiators, the climate emergency is our best, and possibly last, opportunity to create a global consciousness.
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Thank you sharing your thoughts with us. Global and National politics are ruining our world, the challenge is for us to influence those politics through non-violent action and a meaningfully informed democracy. When are the next elections in Canada? Its time to make your voice heard at the ballot.