29 January 2016 | Decarbonisation Pathways, SDSN Youth

A critical role for youth in COP21

Last month, SDSN Youth Australia/Pacific members Siamak Sam Loni and Melissa Peppin from Australia and Benjamin Brooking from New Zealand joined a team of SDSN Youth colleagues from around the world at the historic COP21 in Paris.

The SDSN Youth team attended many high-level meetings and events at COP21 to convince policy makers that young people are a source of innovation and energy and have a critical role in any pathway towards achieving the Paris Agreement.

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Among the highlights, Sam joined the panel for the UNESCO International Seminar for the Associated Schools Project Network (ASPnet) workshop and spoke about the need to revolutionise global education so that that it fosters sustainability and climate change action at the core of its principles. Following this, Sam met with UNESCO representatives to discuss partnerships with SDSN Youth to engage schools around the world in sustainable development education.

Melissa was invited to speak at a UN Women workshop to launch the new SDSN Youth Arts Initiative, which serves as a platform for young artists to showcase their creativity to address social issues, global challenges and facilitate positive change for a more sustainable and prosperous future.

This initiative strives to promote a deeper understanding of the similarities and differences among cultures, races, and religions through artworks of all generations that reflect youthful courage, selflessness and passion.

Go to the SDSN Youth website for more information and to connect with them via Facebook or Twitter.

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