It’s Getting Hot In Here

The bustling halls of the United Nations climate negotiations still ringing in my ears, it’s been an incredible few months since I and other youth delegates from SustainUS returned from Bali. So many friends and neighbors emailed or stopped by to say “Thanks for sending your email updates from Bali!” and “Welcome home!” I still feel the excitement of working with the best & brightest of the youth climate movement around the world.

Upon returning from Bali as a US youth delegate, I was filled with hope that humanity will create a global consciousness by rising to meet the climate emergency. In the last few months, worsening scientific predictions have only strengthened my belief that we are the leaders we seek. It’s up to us. We have the power to make the climate emergency, and the immense economic opportunities we will realize from solving it, our top priority. A bold, broad movement is needed on a scale larger than the mobilization for World War II. This mobilization will only be accomplished by unleashing a renewed civic engagement.

Continue reading ‘Post-Bali Dispatch: “Lighting Up” a movement in Upstate New York!’

Yesterday, the International Youth delegations read a powerful statement to the high-level plenary in at the climate conference in Bali. Giving the UN climate conference’s closing statement, it was a defining moment. The incredble speakers were Anna Keenan from Australia, Karmila Parakkasi from Indonesia, Whit Jones from SustainUS in the United States, and Bambou Chieppa (a 13-year old girl). At 4 minutes, the statement was powerful and concise — and called for bold action.

I helped coordinate the drafting of the statement, and it was an amazing experience. Written together by the Indonesian, Japanese, American, Australian, Canadian, Belgian, and French youth delegations, it was a true international collaboration. I am so proud of the inclusive and consensus process we used — it’s inspiring how our international youth delegation puts aside differences and worked together.

On Friday, when Amanda, Whit, Karmila, and Bambou stood on stage — the room fell silent. This is what they said:

WHO WE ARE

I am Anna Keenan from Australia, Karmila Parakkasi from Indonesia, and Whit Jones from the United States of America. We speak today as part of the global youth climate movement. Half the world’s population is under 30, and will live with the decisions you make today.

Continue reading ‘BaliBuzz: Youth Statement to High-Level Plenary in Bali: “This is our last chance”’

We are forging our future here in Bali. I think it’s incredible to meet so many youth from around the world are here in Bali. Leaders of the youth climate movement from Canada, Australia, US, UK, India, Singapore, Philippines, Indonesia, Germany, Holland, and Japan are here and calling on world leaders for a strong commitment to action.

On Saturday, we kicked off our international youth coalition in Bali in preparation for the conference. To step up our impact on the negotiations, we organized ourselves into four working groups: Communications & messaging, Creative action & outreach, Policy, and International youth network. The four groups are now meeting daily to coordinate their own projects during the conference.

Continue reading ‘BaliBuzz: Joining Leaders of the Global Youth Climate Movement’