Turn Up the Volume: Youth Power at COP28!
Regan Wineera has joined the PCF Team for a summer internship and he has been following all the action at COP28 in Dubai. He wrote this for us today…..
Kia ora, peeps! Guess what went down at the Moana Pacific Pavilion during the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)? Mr. Henry Puna, the big boss of the Pacific Islands Forum, hosted a Youth Panel! Yeah, you heard it right – a whole panel just for us, the youth, to talk about climate stuff in the Pacific.
Now, why was this a big deal, you ask? Well, PIFS (that's Pacific Islands Forum States, FYI) gave a thumbs-up to boosting the Youth voice. They're not just giving us lip service, nah-ah! They're stepping up at COP28, leading the charge, and making sure we're part of the big decisions about the crazy climate changes hitting us and our communities.
So, what's PIFS got to do with this Youth Leadership Panel, you wonder? Turns out, they're shouting out loud that even though we're not the big emitters, we're the ones feeling the heat the most. PIFS is making sure we have a say because, hey, it's our future that's on the line. Plus, they've got their own youth alliance, so they're not just talk – they've got members on the ground at COP, speaking our language.
Now, Secretary-General Henry Puna didn't just drop some dry speech; he hit us with hope vibes. He straight-up said, "When we talk about climate change, we're talking about YOUR future." Like, whoa, right? The dude knows this is our show to run.
But it's not all serious faces – the Young Leaders on the panel had some fire thoughts too. Damilola Hamid Balogun, CEO of Youth Sustainable Development Network, said we're not here for show; our contributions matter, and they better get the respect they deserve. And Angelica Mantika from Aussie Youth for International Climate Engagement? She dropped the mic, saying we shouldn't measure success by how much stuff we produce – that's what's causing this whole crisis.
And get this,– the Honorable Esa Sharon Mona Ainuu from Niue rolled in and said leaders need to tune in and listen up. She told us to keep voicing our thoughts and be patient – they're trying to work with us. That's a green light to keep speaking our truth!
Now, Why should we care about the youth voice? 'Cause climate chaos messes with us NOW. Some of us stress out, some get all messed up in the head after crazy climate events, and others worry about what's gonna hit us next. That's why our voices matter – 'cause it's not a matter of if but WHEN climate change drops the bomb.
So, listen up, world – youth voice ain't just noise. It's the beat to the climate change jam, and we're turning up the volume!
#YouthPower #ClimateActionNow #PIFS #PacificClimateAction #PacificYouth