National youth summit on Climate Change - Hyderabad '08
The Indian Youth Summit on Climate Change 7th to 10th of August 2008 was a milestone for India’s youth movement on climate change. From debate paralleling UN climate negotiations to addresses by eminent people to the youth and discussions of India’s emission targets to staying up till 3am discussing the future youth want to build.
The aim of the summit was to come out with a youth declaration on climate change to unite the individuals and organizations that have a stake in climate change – which includes everyone! It also aimed to create the framework that would then move on to produce the India’s Youth Action Plan on Climate Change, climate policy that will be proposed to the government over the next 6-8 months. The summit was organized by the Friendship Foundation, Global Citizens for Sustainable Development, Nature & Biological Sciences Society, the Indian Youth Climate Network, and hosted by Infosys Technologies Limited at their Gachibowli campus.
Narayana Murthy, co-founder, non-executive Chairman and Chief Mentor of Infosys Technologies Limited, addressed the delegates. He said, “I have always believed that the most powerful instrument that a leader has is leadership by example.” He further proved this by describing his sustainable living practices, including bathing with only half a bucket of water every day for the past 40 years.
Participants agreed that India needs to act urgently, commit to emissions reduction targets and renewable energy targets. They also agreed our actions need to be based on an international target of 350ppm concentration of carbon dioxide emissions in the atmosphere.
Other guest speakers included, Nitin Desai, former Under Secretary General of the United Nations; Vandana Shiva, an eminent physicist, environmental activist, author and the founder of the Navdanya Institute; Amala Akkinani, film star and founder of the Blue Cross of Hyderabad, Gaurav Gupta from the Climate Project India, Dr Rajamani, Former Chief Secretary, Ministry of Environment & Forests, GoI, and speakers from CSM, Oxfam, Greenpeace and Sierra Club.
Key Outcomes:
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Exchange of knowledge, ideas, techniques and practices on climate change mitigation and adaptation. Attendees prepared presentations that facilitated discussions. It brought together 150 youth from 15 states in India, ranging from Rajasthan to Meghalaya and from Kashmir to Tamil Nadu.
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Created the Indian Youth Charter on Climate Change.
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Produced an alternative to the current vision of a post 2012 scenario; setting policy and projects,; marking objectives and benchmarks for India in all areas related to climate change. This was in adherence to the assumptions based on existing national and international climate policy and the National Action Plan on Climate Change.
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Sent the first ever Indian Youth Delegation representing Indian youth at the UNFCCC COP/CMP 14 in Poland in December, 2008. All except one member of this delegation participated in the Indian Youth Summit on Climate Change.
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Forged a nationwide partnership of youth under the aegis of the Indian Youth Climate Network, and a lot of our regional coordinators were found through this summit, and many participants returned to their region for local organising, and continuing participation as a part of the network and building the nationwide movement.
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Exchanged innovative and creative ideas through painting murals about climate change, running a poster session and holding a film screening during this conference.
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Ensured participation from:
a. Youth from educational institutions, organizations and young individuals from across India.
b. Selected specialists and eminent speakers on climate change from a range of sectors from across India, including business, NGO, academic and government backgrounds.
c. Teachers and social activists working on climate change and sustainable development related issues
Quotable quotes:
Narayana Murthy
“We have a population of 650 to 700 million people under the age of 30. If we can mobilize this force, we will have enormous power for change to address climate change.”
Dr Rajamani:
“In your own group wherever you’re live, make the change”
“I think you’re on the ball, on the move, all the best”
Amala Akkinani
“I may not be a climate expert, but I am a concerned citizen. I love my planet; it is my only home.”
Bittu Sehgal
“Young people have power, and it is time to use it to your advantage.”
“If a lot do a little, a lot gets done.”
“If your house is on fire, you can’t go downstairs and have a debate on who started the fire and who is responsible to put it out. You all need to get some water and put it out.”
Farida Tampal
“Genetic diversity in our food crops means that we will be protected from a single climatic disaster.”
Natasha Chandy of Greenpeace India
“If we need to fight climate change, we – tomorrow’s future – need to create a revolution today. IYSoCC is just the beginning.”