HOPEnhagen! Conference of Youth at UN Climate Negociations.

After returning on November 24th 2009 home from the Schliersee Project  in Germany, full with energy, dreams,hope and inspiration I immediately began pursuing my plans on attending the biggest UN Conference on Climate Change, as one of African Youth delegate. I am here, in Copenhagen...HOPEnhaggen

Another major side event and the most important event for the youths is the  5th  Conference of Youth.(COY).  The event started on the 5th and ended on the 6th of December at Copenhagen University  with over 500 youth delegates in attendance. It  was aimed at building trust and solidarity among youth who will be attending COP15, and to share ideas, thoughts, successes and skills with each other. It also has the focus to build a truly global movement to stop the climate crisis.  The  Conference of Youth was so inspiring as the Global youth climate movement was TRULY Global for instance, Africa made History for having more 40 youths participants and over 150 youths from the global South. I am so happy too that for the 1st time many young Nigerians will be actively participating


As my dream plan project based on my Fellowship Program in Germany is on Green Education for Young people in Nigeria  to become environmental change makers in their local communities by taking action in local environmental service projects, being here was also inspiring and an opportunity to meet over 500 young persons from across the globe, to learn and share from each other. I am very Happy to be here. It a dream come true.

"Our destiny will be written by us...Youths are playing IMPORTANT role in the UN climate Negotiations. A struggle that began many years ago...This is the first time that the Global Youth movement is TRULY Global" This are the Words of Deepa, the founder of Indian Youth Climate Network.
Our strength is our passion and enthusiasm. We are strong. This is our future, this is our lives.

 ..But What does the principle of share, yet differentiated responsibility entails?

As explained to me, the principle of common, but differentiated responsibility remind us that in Rio de Janeiro 1992 the world recognized that we are facing common global problems, but that our capacities to respond and historical influence were different and that this had to be taken into consideration when setting commitments. Today, in Copenhagen, developed countries are trying to do away with the principle and are using it to put the burden on others.

The capacities of several developing countries and marginalized peoples and communities cannot respond to this burden and historical influence were different too; this has to be taken into consideration when setting commitments. Today, in Copenhagen, developed countries are trying to do away with the principle and are using it to put the burden on others as in the case of offsetting systems supported by carbon markets in developing countries.

In other words, developed countries in the negotiations are trying to twist the interpretation of the 'common but differentiated responsibilities" to mean slowly pass on the common challenges of humanity-- for which they are majorly responsible-- to those that have the least capacity.

 

Esther Agbarakwe
Copenhagen, Denmark.