The UN Climate Change Conference 2009 (COP15) will take place from the 7th – 18th December 2009, in Copenhagen, Denmark. The YMCA will be represented by 20 delegates, including from the World Alliance of YMCAs, Asia and Pacific Alliance of YMCAs, YMCA Lebanon and YMCA Sweden. Over the last few months, the delegation has been working together to ensure that the YMCA will have a strong and effective presence at this important Summit.
COP 15 is the fifteenth Conference of the Parties under the United Nations’ Climate Change Convention (UNFCCC), and is the latest in a series of annual UN meetings that began with the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio. They aim to coordinate international policy tackling climate change. In 1997, the COP 3 talks resulted in the Kyoto Protocol, which came into force on the 16th of February 2005. It was the first international legally-binding agreement to regulate the greenhouse gas emissions that drive global warming.
The goal of the Copenhagen meeting is to establish an ambitious global climate agreement for the period from 2012 when the first commitment period under the Kyoto Protocol expires. Since the issue of climate change has gradually worked its way up the international political agenda, the annual Conference of the Parties has become one of the most important forums for international politics. It is one of the biggest UN conferences ever to be held outside New York or Geneva and is expected to attract between 12,000 and 15,000 delegates representing Government, the private sector as well as civil society.
Under the slogan “YMCA Global Citizens: Acting and Advocating for Climate Justice” – the YMCA delegation will be organising and participating in a series of advocacy and communications activities designed to give visibility to the YMCA Movement’s extensive work in the field of climate change, to strengthen youth participation in climate justice at the global level, and support other youth and ecumenical partner organisations in the call for a “global climate deal in Copenhagen that is fair, ambitious and binding”. Activities will include:
• YMCA Climate Conference
Prior to COP 15, the YMCA delegation will have a one day meeting in Malmo, Sweden, to allow for a sharing of knowledge and good practices in the area of climate change and to refine the strategy for their participation at COP 15. Sweden YMCA-YWCA are kindly hosting this meeting.
• KlimaForum09
Klimaforum09, an event running parallel to COP15 in Copenhagen, will gather representatives of NGOs, civil society organizations, movements and individuals to discuss, debate and envisage ways to ensure a socially just and sustainable future through the development of constructive solutions to the climate crisis. The World Alliance of YMCAs is planning to have a space here to exhibit our work, disseminate materials and publications on climate change, and organise a workshop.
• Young and Future Generations Day
The World Alliance of YMCAs will be organising a joint side event with the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts on 10th December, which has been designated as the Young and Future Generations Day by the UNFCCC Secretariat. This event will focus on youth engagement in climate justice and will be held in the venue of COP15 (Bella Centre).
• Youth Arcade
An exhibition showcasing the YMCA’s work on the environment will be organised in Youth Arcade – a meeting space for youth NGOs in the COP15 venue. Youth-focused UN agencies and international organizations have been invited by the UNFCCC Youth Constituency to promote their youth-led initiatives and display their work.
Beyond COP 15…
Our advocacy actions will not end at COP 15. The World Alliance of YMCAs will continue to be present at critical meetings on this issue, and will be bringing this issue to the 17th World Council of YMCAs and International Youth Forum to be held in Hong Kong in July 2010. Climate change issues will be addressed not only in the skills building workshops and dialogues, but also during the International Youth Forum, a public concert will be held, focusing on the theme of the environment.
“Protecting and preserving our earth for future generations” is not only one of mission priorities of the YMCA, and one of the Millennium Development Goals, it is also our responsibility as Global Citizens to act and advocate for climate justice.
Share Your Work!
If your YMCA is working on this issue, we encourage you to share information about your programmes, together with any materials, photos, videos etc. that could also be shared at COP 15. Please send these to: janet(at)ymca.int
Position Paper for COP 15, United Nations Conference on Climate Change, 2009 - “YMCA Global Citizens: Acting and Advocating on Climate Justice”
The social and economic impact of global warming has increased poverty, threatened food security, destroyed the livelihood of millions of people, created environmental refugees, increased migration flows and further increased the vulnerability of women, children and young people, as well as the elderly.
The UN Climate Change Conference 2009 (COP15) will take place from the 7th – 18th December 2009, in Copenhagen, Denmark. COP 15 is the fifteenth Conference of the Parties under the United Nations’ Climate Change Convention (UNFCCC), and is the latest in a series of annual UN meetings that aim to coordinate international policy tackling climate change.
Under the slogan “YMCA Global Citizens: Acting and Advocating for Climate Justice” – 28 YMCA delegates will be organising and participating in a series of advocacy and communications activities designed to give visibility to the YMCA Movement’s extensive work in the field of climate change, to strengthen youth participation in climate justice at the global level, and support other youth and ecumenical partner organisations in the call for a “global climate deal in Copenhagen that is fair, ambitious and binding”.
COP 15 must deliver a good deal
Article 3.1 of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) states that: “The Parties should protect the climate system for the benefit of present and future generations of humankind, on the basis of equity and in accordance with their common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capacities. Accordingly, the developed country Parties should take the lead in combating climate change and the adverse effects thereof.”
If Parties to the Convention are to uphold this commitment, a strong and fair deal must be achieved at COP 15. Rich countries must commit to reducing domestic carbon emissions by 40% by 2020. Climate Justice also requires that rich countries ensure that developing countries have all the support and resources necessary to reduce their emissions, develop cleanly and adapt to climate change.
Practically, this means reviewing the current neoliberal paradigm underpinning global trade and structural adjustment programmes; investing in research and development in clean energy and sustainable agriculture; and making bold decisions on the financial allocations required for mitigation and adaptation in developing countries.
A bad deal will render the environmental, social and economic impact of global warming irreversible.
Beyond COP 15
Whilst the decisions and commitments taken at the international level in key political forums such as COP15 are decisive in the fight for Climate Justice, the actions of businesses, civil society organisations, specific communities, and individuals, including young people are critical. All have the potential to make a significant contribution towards Climate Justice. The YMCA’s contemporary mission statement affirms its commitment to “Defending God’s creation against all that would destroy it and preserving and protecting the earth’s resources for coming generations.” But what does this mean in practice? And what real impact can the YMCA have in the fight for Climate Justice?
Reducing the YMCA’s Carbon Footprint
A carbon footprint is the total amount of Greenhouse Gases emitted by a person, organisation, product or event, and is measured in tons of carbon dioxide equivalent. Tackling climate change is an effort that requires unified action from individuals and individual organisations. Whilst we must each be conscious of our own personal footprints, as a global movement, active in 124 countries, in over 12,000 communities, operating in office buildings, training centres, schools, universities, sports centres, hotels, and other premises all over the world, the YMCA must take responsibility for its “organisational footprint” and seek ways to make it smaller, or offset it.
As a starting point, we can undertake an audit of our premises and working practices to measure our current carbon footprint. This can be done at low cost using free online tools. Specialised firms also offer more comprehensive assessments that will include a visit to examine heating, lighting, machinery, office equipment, refrigeration, and waste disposal issues to identify major emission sources and opportunities for improvement. How well does the YMCA fare compared to national and international averages?
Studies show that simple energy improvements in new and existing buildings could drastically reduce carbon emissions. Taking some simple steps could make a huge difference, e.g. turning off lights, heating, electronic appliances, when they are not being used; investing in low-flow toilets, faucets and shower heads. Other actions include: avoiding air travel where possible, an using video conferencing; avoiding the use of disposable items such as plastic containers and utensils; and recycling paper and other office materials.
YMCAs can develop organisational policies and training programmes to ensure that the above mentioned actions are institutionalised, and contribute towards reducing our “organisational footprint”. We can also encourage our partners, including other NGOs, donor agencies, and UN bodies to consider similar steps if they have not already done so, as well as lobbying local and national government bodies to adopt “cleaner” technologies. YMCAs can use the UN Convention on Climate Change and the outcomes of the COP 15 meeting as a reference point for their advocacy efforts, using these as the minimum standards that governments should respond too.
Supporting Young People and Communities to Act and Advocate on Climate Justice
Communities should not just be considered as victims of climate change, but acknowledged as a significant part of the global response. Community action can build the resilience and stability of countries and their economies in response to ongoing changes in the climate. Through local sustainable development, working to improve and conserve the natural environment they live in, communities can improve food security and the livelihood of millions of vulnerable people. Several YMCAs around the world are already working to support communities through farming initiatives, energy conversation programmes, and effective management of local natural resources, including in The Gambia, Ghana, Hong Kong, and Lebanon.
Young people are also a crucial part of the solution. By fostering youth volunteerism and civic engagement YMCAs all over the world are supporting young people to enable their communities to adapt and respond to climate change. In Sweden, USA, and the Asia and Pacific Region for example, YMCAs are raising awareness of climate change issues and supporting young people to design and run their own innovative and participatory environmental programmes. YMCAs are also integrating education on climate change and its effects into existing education programmes, particularly Global Citizenship Education curricula.
Individual Action
As YMCA members, volunteers, and staff, we also have a global responsibility to take individual actions to reduce our own carbon footprints. Small lifestyle changes, such as using public transport, or a bicycle, and the three “R”s – Reduce, Re-use, Recycle, can make a real difference. Working in our own communities and mobilizing others to act responsibly towards the environment through lifestyle changes, influencing community leaders and local government to adopt policies that institutionalize the three “R”s so that these values become ingrained in the culture of the community and commit to learning more about the impact of climate change and what can be done about it.
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World Alliance of YMCAs - Media Contact
Working for social justice for all youth, regardless of religion, race, gender or culture, the YMCA is a global ecumenical Movement with 45 million members in 124 countries worldwide. Founded in 1844, the YMCA is the oldest and largest Movement for youth in the world.
The World Alliance of YMCAs (Young Men Christian Association) is a
federation of YMCAs in 124 countries with a membership of over 45 million.
YMCAs seek to share the Christian ideal of building a human community
of peace with justice for all, irrespective of race, class, religion,
or gender. Formed in 1844, the YMCA is one of the largest and oldest youth
movements in the world.
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