Home » Indian Youth Delegation 2008

What did they do?

Meeting with: R.K. Pachauri (December 1):
 
We had an informal 10-15 minute meeting with Dr. Pachauri. We got a brief recording of him talking about the role of youth at the conference, the role of Indian youth in addressing the climate challenge, how the Indian youth delegation might work with the Indian government delegation, and what the outcomes of the Poznan talks might be.
 
Meeting with Yvo De Boer (December 3):
 
Indian youth delegation had a 30 minute meeting with Yvo de Boer, President of the UNFCCC in which he asked them why India scored the lowest in a survey conducted by UNEP of Indian youth about how much action is needed on climate change. The conversation that followed included the role of India, the problems with the current framework, the “shared vision” and what was required to break the political deadlock, and what youth might do to facilitate the process.
 
International Youth Side Event (December 4):
 
Avipsa Mahapatra was the host of the 1.5 hour event. Leela Raina spoke on behalf of IYCN regarding our projects and the process of setting up IYCN. Half way through the event, Indian youth delegates (including Ruchi Jain, Chaitanya Kumar, and Kartikeya Singh) taught the whole audience how to do the “Dekho-Dekho” Indian climate cheer as an energizer. The entire event was themed on youth movements in different countries and the conclusion included an interactive exercise (in small working groups) brainstorming the biggest solution to climate change.
 
“Climate Equity Now” Action (December 5):
 
Indian youth spearheaded the equity themed action done for 30 minutes at the start of the day near the entrance. The title was: “Climate Equity Now! Our Future hangs in the Balance.” Leela Raina, Ruchi Jain, Avipsa Mahapatra, and Chaitanya Kumar were a part of this action. It had a static display of a white male tightly grasping a globe from above (hogging it) while it is lifted from the bottom (as if carrying weight) by a person from the global south. Opposite this, it showed a person from the global north and global south smiling and holding the globe together. A large banner was also held by other participants.
 
Asia Pacific Youth Side Event (December 5):
 
The Australian youth organized a side event in which youth from the Asia Pacific region (including Tuvalu, Australia, Malaysia, and India) spoke about the climate challenge in their respective countries (including health impacts, food security, and youth participation). Ruchi Jain and Chaitanya Kumar presented on behalf of IYCN. They also spoke of the Indian youth demands of Australia (holding true to emissions reduction commitments and better finance for technology transfer). References were made with regards to the trade of coal between Australia and India.
 
Participated in the Global Day of Action (December 6):
 
Ruchi Jain and Leela Raina took to the streets of Poznan on the Global Day of Action organized by the Global Climate Campaign. The theme in Poznan was to tell Politicians to “Stop Clowning Around” with climate policy. Back in Delhi, nearly 700 people from across the city participated in the Global Day of Action at Delhi University.
 
Indian Government Delegation (December 6):
 
Meeting with Rashmi and Patnaik. We briefed them on what IYCN is and what we do. Followed up by a briefing on what we had done at the COP up until that plan. We spoke about what we aim to do in India and the role of youth. We were updated by them on the Indian government position and how the process works. Patnaik mentioned the convergence stance that India has taken (on per-capita emissions allowance) and its implications. We recorded an updated from him on how and what was the status of the negotiations thus far.
 
UNFCCC & Youth Engagement Side Event (December 8):
 
Deepa Gupta was part of a panel discussion with 3 other youth representatives and Yvo de Boer, President of the UNFCCC. They spoke of the challenges of youth around the world addressing climate change and how to have greater youth representation in the UNFCCC process. Yvo told the youth to demand representation of youth amongst their government delegations.  
 
Spoke at Global Climate Leaders Summit (December 8):
 
Kartikeya Singh addressed the Ministers and politicians present at the Summit of Climate Leaders organized by the Climate Group (TCG) at the Sheraton Hotel. CEO of TCG, Steve introduced Kartikeya who then gave a presentation about IYCN and its projects. He then concluded with the youth perspective on what must be done to break the political deadlock on climate change.
 
Participated in the Aerial Art Photo (350) (December 8):
 
Leela Raina, Avipsa Mahapatra, Chaitanya Kumar and Caroline Howe participated in the human art form created on Freedom Square in Poznan for the aerial art photo that was taken. The image was that of a person stranded on an island with arms in the air grappling for the number 350 with waves lapping both sides of the patch of land.
 
Launch of Who’s Who in Climate Change in India (December 9):
 
Kartikeya Singh spoke a few words of the experience and role of Indian youth at the COP at the informal launch of the “Who’s Who of Climate Change in India” version 2.0 (200 pages). IYCN is featured inside. Those present at the gathering were a smattering of representatives from about 10 different Indian NGOs.
 
“Protect our Climate, Protect our Health” Action (December 9):
 
Indian youth delegation coordinated a Health related action. Shielded by a mosquito bed-net was a healthy girl and a healthy planet. On the outside were three sick people (two holding a banner and one lying on the ground).
 
WHO Side Event (December 10):
 
Caroline Howe and Ankur Garg facilitated the World Health Organization side event. Caroline’s Climate Rap that she made for WHO in India was also played. We’ve been in part funded by WHO and the contract includes including Health in our messaging not only at UNFCCC but also back here in India.
 
Lobbying of Governments to sign the Survival pledge (December 10):
 
Indian youth along with all international youth spent the entire day lobbying government officials to sign a pledge saying: “I, the undersigned, commit my delegation to to a global climate treaty that: safeguards the survival of all countries and peoples.” In all, over 80 countries signed the pledge and approximately 10 ministers made direct reference to the pledge in their high level statements resulting in the language being part of the final declaration that came out of the Poznan talks.
 
Lord Nicholas Stern (December 10):
 
Indian youth informally chatted with Lord Stern for about 20-30 minutes. He asked us about the Indian scenario and the role of nuclear in the energy mix. We recorded his thoughts on the conference and what he believed was the role of youth at the venue.
 
Participated in the Ministerial Lunch Program (December 11):
 
Chaitanya Kumar and Leela Raina were two of the 15 youth who met with the Ministers during their formal lunch and lobbied for youth constituency. They were also a part of the performance that these youth did of in front of the Ministers. The focus of the performance was on the idea of deeper youth engagement at the talks.
 
Mass Dialog (December 11):
 
No one from the Indian youth delegation was present to connect with the Indian youth on the teleconference conducted on this day. However one of our local partners in Pune organized a gathering of youth from several colleges to connect with the youth present at the COP to speak about climate change and the role of youth, and the proceedings of the conference.
 
International Press Conference (December 11):
 
The second International Press Conference held by the youth was based around the theme of survival. Four speakers from different climate affected countries spoke. Deepa Gupta spoke on behalf of youth from the subcontinent.
 
Youth High Level Action (December 12):
 
Co-led by Deepa Gupta, this spontaneous action in front of the Media area between the plenary rooms directly after the Al Gore speech brought together all youth and other COP participants in a crescendo of energy demanding the commitment to survival as an underlying principal of the post-2012 framework. This received a large amount of international press and had hundreds of participants chant in solidarity within the halls of the COP.
 
Youth Statement at High Level (December 12):
 
Kartikeya Singh made a presentation at the High Level Plenary on behalf of youth. Statement was themed around equity and the need for firm commitment from industrialized nations. He along with three other youth representatives were well received on stage by the audience of civil society groups (including youth) and many government officials. After the speech a paper crane and a statement from youth with the 80 countries committed to the “survival principal” was handed to the COP president chairing the session.