Canadian youth leadership in Bali negotiations

2degreesC had a major presence at the Bali negotiations, both through their participation in the CYD and within the wider international youth presence. Aiden Abram had the honour of coordinating the Canadian Youth Delegation, which was organized over the five months leading up to the Bali negotiations. Former CYDer David Noble, whom teammate Aiden had to tell “[was] too old to be a youth”, was promoted to ‘adviser’ to the CYD. Former 2degreesC’er Trevor Bennett was also a member of CYD.

In addition, 2degreesC purchased carbon offsets to cover the air travel emissions for CYD delegates.

Together with international youth delegates from 35 countries, the CYD met with negotiators, government leaders and representatives from international and regional organizations. The youth delegates undertook a massive media campaign to draw interest to the negotiations and to stimulate the public’s attention to key issues being discussed. Their efforts achieved Canada-wide and international coverage. Aiden conducted two national CBC Canada AM television interviews and was covered by the Finnish Broadcasting Corporation. Aiden was also profiled by BBC Vietnam.

2degreesC also led a research and development activity leading up to and at the Bali negotiations. With support from International Development Research Centre (IDRC), they researched past youth experiences in the policy process and facilitated an ongoing conversation amongst global youth leaders about how to strengthen and sustain international networks and engagement. This initial foray into the machinations of the global youth climate change movement inspired our ongoing efforts massively scale up and increase the effectiveness of global youth engagement on climate change.

It’s also in Bali that we met and teamed up with Robert vanWaarden, many of whose photos we feature in our photo exhibition and spoken word stories of youth engagement.