In 2009, the Tunza International Youth Conference on Climate Change involved over 800 youth gathering to address environmental issues, as part of Korean Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's UN campaign to obtain public support for an international climate agreement.
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Problems and Purpose
The Tunza International Youth Conference on Climate Change 2009 addressed the issue of climate change by convening over 800 youth, aged 10-24, from over 100 countries around the world. It was part of a global UN-wide "Seal the Deal!" campaign spearheaded by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to galvanize political will and public support for a comprehensive global climate agreement.
Background History and Context
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Organizing, Supporting, and Funding Entities
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Participant Recruitment and Selection
According to the UN, "Participants at the conference were selected from thousands of applicants based on their outstanding ‘green’ achievements in their respective countries, illustrating strides made by the next generation to address the serious threat of global warming" [1]. In total, over 800 participants were selected with approximately 700 convening in Daejeon, Republic of Korea, and the rest joining remotely through an interactive online webcast program set up at 15 sites around the world. Global webcast sites included in: Cuernavaca, Mexico; Bangkok, Thailand; London, UK; Pune, India: and Nairobi, Kenya.
Methods and Tools Used
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Deliberation, Decisions, and Public Interaction
Eight hundred young people from around the globe called on world leaders to stand up and take substantial measures against climate change. The young participants issued a declaration at the conclusion of the Town Meeting, and sent them with personal letters to governments in over 100 capitals around the world and to each of the world leaders, from former U.S. President Barack Obama to former Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, urging them to "Seal a meaningful Deal on climate change" at Copenhagen.
Influence, Outcomes, and Effects
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon delivered the youths' declaration at the opening of the 64th session of the U.N. General Assembly in September and to global leaders in Copenhagen, Denmark, for the United Nations Climate Change Conference.
Analysis and Lessons Learned
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See Also
Information and Communications Technologies
References
[1] Retrieved from https://unngls.org/index.php/un-ngls_news_archives/2009/969-tunza-intern... [dead link]
External Links
UN endeavours to ensure that children have a say in climate change moves
UNICEF: Children, young people unite online to address climate change
Tunza vol. 7 no.3: Tunza 2009 youth conferences, what we want from Copenhagen
Tunza eco-generation International Youth Conference on the Environment
Report from a participant: UNEP's Tunza Youth Conference; a life changing experience
UNEP Magazine for Youth: TUNZA
The Challenges of Climate Change: Children on the front line
Biggest-Ever Youth Gathering on Climate Change to Call for Real Action in Copenhagen
Notes
The original version of this case study first appeared on Vitalizing Democracy in 2010 and was a contestant for the 2011 Reinhard Mohn Prize. It was originally submitted by Eric Diters.
Lead Image: Tunza Conference on Climate Change https://goo.gl/dxHiC2