An Explanation of How the International Youth Climate Movement Functioned at COP15

While in Copenhagen, we had the incredible opportunity to work with thousands of youth from across the globe to advocate for a bold, legally binding, and science based international treaty. This post is to explain briefly how the international youth climate movement (IYCM) was coordinated at COP15 to create a unified youth voice, send a clear message, and foster long term relationships.

The IYCM gained official constituency status at this years COP, but on a provisional basis.  The IYCM’s official UNFCCC title is YOUNGO (youth non-governmental organization) and there are several other constituency groups like the NGOs, BINGOs, and YUNGOs.  This means that the COP has now recognized that we are a large enough group and that our interest in the conference is strong enough that we can be officially recognized as a voice to be reckoned with.  This constituency status also puts the IYCM on the same level as large NGOs and industry groups.  Since the constituency status was issued on a provisional basis, the actions and behaviors of the youth that were there could either permanently secure our official role in these negotiations or dissolve it.  Also as a constituent, we were able to have an official delegation office, which served as a critical place for organizing the thousands of youth that were there.

The IYCM has several very important ways that it organizes itself.  The main way that decisions are made is through a spokescouncil and daily meetings.  Since there are an absurd number of different country, affinity group, and organizational delegations that are represented in YOUNGO, a representative spokescouncil was found to be the most effective way to have an equitable decision making process.  The video that is attached to this post shows a typical spokescouncil meeting that happened at 8am every morning of the conference.  Each group could have one person sit on the spokescouncil to voice the options and concerns of their delegation and make proposals.  All communication from each delegation must come through that one person.  We took turns sitting as the SSC “spoke,” and I have to say that it is in the top three most exciting things that I did in Copenhagen.  It was extremely empowering to be able to represent the SSC in an international arena and for us to participate in climate action at the international level!  In terms of movement communication, there is a main international youth google group and several others for the different affinity groups.  The main listserv is used to start discussions, announce actions, and submit proposals in text for review.  They are open to join if you are interested in seeing whats being discussed, but be prepared to receive literally hundreds of emails every day on it.  It is really exciting that there is so much passion and enthusiasm out there, but its pretty overwhelming as well.

For how many individuals and groups are involved, it is incredibly impressive how well organized and coordinated the IYCM is.  It is even more impressive how powerful we have become.  Time and time again I heard from other NGO delegates and negotiators that they were really impressed with the youth and how important they think it is that we were there participating in these negotiations.  My response has been, and will continue to be: great, because we are here to stay.  We are here to remind you that the decisions that you make today directly affect our lives tomorrow and the future.  We have reached across continents and oceans to come together and stand up for our collective future.