Right now in Bali the Environment Ministers and Negotiators of all nations are participating in the GC/GMEF. The major theme is ‘Environment in the Multilateral System’, discussing : 1) International Environmental Governance and Sustainable Development 2) Biodiversity and Ecosystems 3) Green Economy

Above and beyond the government delegates are one seat for each nine major groups in plenary; NGOs, Indigenous Peoples, Women, Farmers, Local Authorities, Scientific & Technological Communities, Business & Industry, Workers & Trade Unions, and Children & Youth. Sara Svenson spook for the Children and Youth and below is her speech.

Children & Youth Intervention

Opening Plenary, UNEP Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum, 24 February 2010

Thank you Mr Chair.

Distinguished Delegates,

My name is Sara Svensson, and I will be 65 years old in 2050. I’m here as a representative for half of the world’s human population, Children & Youth.

We are desperately aware that humanity is on track of driving ourselves into extinction. Millions of species with intrinsic value have already gone extinct because of shortsighted human activities. Pushing the deadline for biodiversity targets literally means crossing the line to death. Despite this, 2010 is called the International Year of Biodiversity.

Where is our reason to celebrate?

In 2009, millions of people all over the world mobilised in the lead-up to Copenhagen. Personally I was fasting for climate justice. I spent 43 days and 44 nights eating nothing and drinking only water. I felt a moral response was needed to an immoral situation. COP15 didn’t give us the climate deal we need. United Nations became the Divided Nations and observers were locked out of the room.

Where is our reason to celebrate?

In desperate urgency, we now have a choice. We can raise to the challenge, restructure our economies, redefine our common values and do what is best for the greater good. The world needs a a total paradigm shift, and we have the tremendous opportunity to make it happen.

That is our reason to celebrate.

Children & Youth announce with confidence that the sustainable future is coming. We’re not pleading for change anymore, we’re creating it ourselves. Over the next 40 years we’re committing our entire working lives to gradually transform our societies and create a sustainable future.

If we can’t trust you - as our appointed leaders - to save the world, it won’t take long before Children & Youth kick you out of office and take your place.

You can speed up the process by showing bold leadership today. Give us the green jobs we want. You have the power, we have the energy. Use your power to give us the framework we need, and we’ll use our passion to steer the world on course.

Thank you. ” by Sara Svensson

Sara’s conclusion parallels my hopes and aspirations. She speaks how our generation is committing our entire working lives to gradually transform our world, I am trying in my own right with www.(re)cover.me

Sara continues to say that we will continue to push our leaders until we have to replace them, and I too believe in the strength of dedicated leadership. We do have the energy- and we have the wisdom of a global world. We grew up learning from people in different situations, different cultures. What I know I learnt from experience + traveling + school.. our generation has been so blessed to be able to learn beyond the books and documentaries but to have lived  experiences that mould us to be a leader who understands the need for diversity and sustainability. We have been given such true global wisdom, it’s our obligation to share it and if those with the power don’t listen then it’s our obligation to lead with that global wisdom.

The Columbia Institute held “Making green jobs happen: A governance forum for leaders in Ontario” at the Direct Energy Centre this past saturday.There were several regional and municipal officials from Ontario gathered to hear some guest speakers and their success stories.

The day opened with Robert Pollin, the founding Co-Director of the Political Economy Research Institute (PERI) at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. He co-authored the reports “Job Opportunities for the Green Economy” (June 2008) and “Green Recovery” (September 2008) which explore the broader economic benefits of large-scale investments in a clean-energy economy in the U.S. He is also the author of “Building the Green Economy: Employment Effects of Green Energy Investments for Ontario.” Shocking that an American was the expert talking about growing a green economy in Ontario- but hey, he did his research !(?) He compares the fossil fuel industry to the clean energy industry with graphs showing the same investments producing more jobs. He preached the same song I’ve been hearing at conferences since I was 16 years old; a green economy creates more jobs and a brighter future; more jobs of all kinds, not just green jobs, MORE JOBS !

We then split into WORKSHOPS, I attended the one titled “Municipal Financing for Green Retrofits”.
We heard how Municipalities in New York finance green energy projects and energy efficiency retrofits for homes and made money at the same time !
• SteveBellone,Supervisor,TownofBabylon–creatorofasuccessful,largescale, municipally funded energy efficiency retrofit program in New York.
• KelleyMcKanna,ProjectManager,RenewableFunding–pioneersinthe municipally led, municipally financed home-based renewable energy installation
• Emmaia Gelman, Policy Director, Center for Working Families – led campaign to win $100,000,000 in funding for energy efficient retrofits for the state of New Yor
Learn how municipalities can promote and finance green energy projects and energy efficiency retrofits for homes and make money at the same time