NEW YORK, 20 SEPTEMBER – They came to New York from 90 countries throughout the world: “You are the witnesses of the future”, told them the Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi. Gathering young people’s ideas and proposals in order to tackle the climate crisis was the objective of Youth4Climate, the Ministry of Ecological Transition and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)’s conference on climate change unfolding in New York today. “We must ensure that all climate action is based on human rights and the involvement of young people. You are our reason to believe in a more sustainable future”, said Deputy Secretary General Amina Mohammed in a message of greeting to the participants in which she thanked Draghi “for his leadership in climate matters”.
The meeting, whose first edition organised by Italy took place last year in Milan, was held today as a side event of the High Level General Assembly. About 150 young delegates from 90 countries attended as the conference is paving the way to other crucial events: not only the COP27 organized in November from Egypt to Sharm el-Sheikh, but also the COP15 on Biodiversity which will take place from 7 to 19 December in Montreal.
“I am extremely proud of the Italian leadership in this initiative, Italy’s and Roberto’s”, said Premier Draghi referring to Cingolani, recalling that the Milan edition of the event “put young people at the centre of the debate and in a strong position to shape the discussions at COP26, channelling support for youth engagement at local, national and international levels”. Now “we need to do better, and do it faster”, added the Prime Minister.
Cingolani, the Minister of Ecological Transition, opened the meeting: “Your contributions are stronger than ever. Ideas based on cultures, community”, said the minister to young participants asking them to “keep the dream alive and build a legacy based on your ideas”.
After the success of the first edition during the PreCOP26 (attended by 400 young people including star-activists such as Greta Thunberg and Vanessa Nakate), Cingolani strongly wanted this event to become a yearly fixture. Last year the Youth4Climate produced a final document, the Youth4Climate Manifesto, which was presented at the Cop26 in Glasgow. This time the target is the COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh with proposals and solutions on the four central themes of the Manifesto: Youth Leadership Ambition, Sustainable Recovery, Involvement of non-state actors, Climate-conscious society. (@OnuItalia)
