International Youth Day will take place this year on August 12, 2008. This year’s theme is “Youth and Climate Change: Time for Action.” Climate change has already begun to devastate communities and deepen the effects of poverty, making the challenges facing young people even more difficult. However, young people have a powerful voice, and together have great potential to call for action and work towards ensuring a better future for every generation. On International Youth Day, it is important to celebrate the achievements of young people, encourage their further involvement in decision-making and development of their communities, and recognize their potential to change the future.

“Left unaddressed, climate change could cause an unraveling of the progress that has been made towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals, and could also have serious implications for peace and security,” said UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, in a message to young people about International Youth Day. “Unless we make radical changes in the way we live, by the time the youth of 2008 reach my age, the world may well have become a rather inhospitable place.”

“Today’s young people will bear the consequences of climate change, thanks to the unfortunate legacy of their elders,” he continued. In many developing countries, girls and young women are often responsible for farming, collecting wood, and finding water sources. These duties will become much more challenging as climate change reduces the availability of water and agricultural productivity. Young women and girls will be forced to spend even more time on these activities, rather than on education.

But young people have a distinct advantage in the fight against climate change, said Ban Ki-Moon. Young people are skilled at using and spreading new habits and technologies. They can also easily adapt to low-carbon lifestyles and can work towards a transition to a low-carbon economy. Such economic growth based on clean energy will also create jobs that help reduce youth unemployment. Overall, young people should be given the opportunity to become more involved in decision-making.

“We will need the spirit of youth in abundance as the world seeks to embrace cleaner, more sustainable forms of energy, including renewable resources,” said the Secretary General.


Some of the specific areas that need to be addressed by young people are:

• Preparedness and disaster risk reduction: It is necessary to work towards building the capacities of individuals and communities so that people are prepared for any disasters that come about as a result of climate change. Moreover, the likelihood of such disasters occurring should be reduced.
• Adaptation and mitigation: Actions must be taken to reduce the harm and exploit the benefits of climate change.


What can you do to join the global youth movement on IYD08?

Team up! Team up with other young people within your community. Look for existing youth organizations in your local, regional, or national communities that are taking action on climate change. Together, you can work to make climate change a priority for stakeholders – like governments, NGOs, academic institutions, businesses, and individuals.

Take action! Once you have gathered a group of people interested in climate change, go one step further by taking concrete action to achieve your goals. Conduct research on how your local community is contributing to climate change – and do something about it! Get young people involved in planning a local project to promote sustainable development practices in your community. Research what has successfully been done in other communities, and lobby for implementing those practices in your own community. Hold events, talks, public discussions, campaigns, and forums to raise awareness about climate change, encourage more young people to get involved, and to find out what other young people are already doing. Use media such as the internet, blogs, advertisements, newspapers, and the radio to raise awareness of International Youth Day, climate change issues, and to motivate other youth to take action.

Celebrate! If you or others in your community have already been involved in projects that address climate change, plan an event to showcase your work and to inform others of what is being done about the issue of climate change. Raise even more support for your project by inviting leaders, officials, and young people from your local community.

According to the Secretary General – ultimately, young people around the world have a chance to “invest their energies and bright ideas into shaping a safer, more sustainable planet.” So make sure to celebrate International Youth Day 2008 by taking action on climate change, making your voice heard, and working towards a bright future for all young people!

What are YOU doing to celebrate International Youth Day 2008? Leave your comments here!

Credits: Information from Here and Here.