While international negotiators are finalizing their position statements, and pressing their shirts for the start of the conference, the International Youth delegates were already hard at work.

Today, almost 200 youth from over 50 countries joined together to develop our shared vision, strategy, and positions as we head into the 14th UN climate change conferences. Beginning with some inspiring messages about why we have been brought together in Poland, participants learned the history of youth involvement, the basics of the policies involved, and the opportunities for making a difference here in Poland, as well as next year in Copenhagen.

After lunch, the youth split into various working groups, including communications, media, actions, and policy. Being of the policy bent myself, as any readers can probably now guess, I joined in with this working group. I was in disbelief over how much the interest in policy has grown since last year! We went from a group of about 10 international youth, to over 50 since last year. We were able to develop subgroups on 6 key issues, which include Forestry issues, Clean Development Mechanism issues, Mitigation, Adaptation, Finance, and Technology Transfer. The group is already very well organized, highly co-operative, and I am looking forward to seeing what this dynamic team is able to accomplish over the next two weeks.

At the end of the day I was amazed at how well such a large group of young people from such diverse backgrounds and cultures seem to cooperate seamlessly. We are able to agree on issues effortlessly, and share a strong, unified vision of reversing the climate change trends. A look around the large room at all these passionate, dedicated faces suggests that these are my teammates, and my partners in this quest to slow or end the destruction to our climate. Mal, a UK youth delegate, said it best when he said, "we are setting an example for how the international community should be cooperating on this issue". I couldn't agree more.

(Disclaimer: If typos or repetition are rampant in this entry, I blame the lack of sleep that we are all currently experiencing!)

So, climate negotiations in about 20 years should be easy-peasy, judging from the passion and motivation of this year's international youth delegation. Until then, though, it looks like we've got to be content with channeling all that energy into influencing negotiations from the outside. (Out of the 44-person international policy group, only 3 people were from countries that include youth on their international delegation.)
Today was the first day of the international Conference of Youth, and seeing young people from all over the world coming together over the common goal of fighting climate change was really powerful. As we laid the groundwork for strategy and communication in the policy working group, I felt excited to think of the power of using the international youth voice to help push the major issues here in Poznan toward the kind of strong action that we need. However, my favourite moment so far was probably when they asked the question, "Who prefers tea to coffee?" and the entire UK delegation raised their hands. Way to break down stereotypes on the international stage, guys.
Really looking forward to more work on policy positions and the first sessions on Monday!

You now can share The Official Canadian Youth Delegation to Poznan Blog which can be added to your website, your blog, your Facebook profile almost anywhere online where you think the audience would be interested in following the Canadian Youth Delegation.

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Please join in watching the international youth delegates who will be attending the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Poznan, Poland by watching live broadcast video which will showcase workshop,sessions, daily actions and what youth are doing to make sure that there is concrete action from our governments at the Fourteenth Conference of Parties (COP 14) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).





The first broadcasts will feature the Conference of Youth 4 (COY4)where young delegates will gather from November 29th to 30th to prepare themselves for the United Nations Climate Change Conference.

While there will be a time zone difference in the live broadcasting all of the video will be available online at any time so you can still watch even if you miss the live broadcast. You can watch videos from last years United Nations Climate Change Conference in Bali, Indonesia as well as videos from the UNDP on climate change during the time between the live broadcasts.

The video player can be found on the Canadian Youth Delegation to Poznan website under the Resources section.

Please share the International Youth Climate Movement video player with everyone and feel free to embed it to your websites, blogs or Facebook profiles. You can find the Embedding Code for various online platforms by visiting here.

I can be contacted for support for anyone who is interested in featuring the International Youth Climate Movement video player on your website.

Regards,

Adam MacIsaac

Email: [email protected]
Skype: adam.macisaac

While checking up on the local news on Prince Edward Island before heading out soon to Poznan, Poland for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change negotiations I came across an article with the title of 'Leading by example on climate change, says P.E.I.' on CBC.ca

I am glad to see the Prince Edward Island Environment Minister George Webster making the public statement in the article that ‘We are without question the most vulnerable province in Canada.'

This concept of climate change affecting our habitat in the North is not often looked at since we have vast access to resources and technology which we assume will solve the problems as they happen.

I would say that if P.E.I. wants to be leaders on addressing this issue we would have to implement a province wide public transportation system which will reduce the amount of single passenger automobiles, be producing our own agriculture produce and consuming

With little new money to spend on renewable energy and climate change, being the leading province in Canada might not be the easiest but with a provincial education system that builds a greater awareness there should be easy changes made to take steps towards being a leader in the future.