BEM FE UNAIR

This year, world leaders will converge on Copenhagen to discuss the next phase of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, essentially deciding how the world will collaborate to address the issue of climate change. This is the 15th such negotiation, or Conference of Parties, and at COP15, it is critical that the youth voice is heard louder, seen larger, and felt more powerfully than ever before. The growing youth climate movement has gained one huge victory already, with our status as a Youth Constituency, recognizing our youth networks and movements as YOUNGOs (youth led NGOs).

We hope to demonstrate another majority victory in Copenhagen, by having an international youth delegation that is as representative and equitable as the global climate deal we are fighting for. Youth all over the world have been working hard to ensure that we have the necessary funds to support the presence of Global South youth, particularly from the most under-represented and over-impacted regions of the world. We have received, and hope to continue to receive, funding for youth climate campaigners and activists from the global south – who would not otherwise have the opportunity – to attend COP15. This is the expression of support of NGOs, individuals and governments for youth from all over the world. The Dutch government, in particular, is providing a significant part of the funds available.

With this mail, we are launching our call for applications from Southern youth.

This means not only attending the negotiations, but participating in the Conference of Youth, held every year the weekend before COP to empower, connect, and mobilize the international youth delegation; being an active part of the groundwork done at COPs (actions, communications, policy lobbying, and youth network-building); and debriefing at the end of the COP to see where and how we can best move forward together towards the implementation of the agreement. These dates run from December 4-6 (COY), 7-18 (COP), 19-20 (Debrief). Please contact your university administration or supervisor (if applicable) before applying to ensure that you can attend the COY and COP from 4 December to 20 December. The selected delegates will be provided with a prepaid ticket to go to Copenhagen, as well as a basic stipend to cover accommodation and local costs.

Apply by filling out the form attached, asking a host organization or network to sign the letter of support and recommendation, and sending it back to GSYD.applications@youthforum.org by November 5th at 00:00 AM GMT.

If you are interested in attending, we recommend you also start lobbying your governments to get integrated into the official delegation, or to ask for UNFCCC accreditation from an accredited organisation – the list is on http://maindb.unfccc.int/public/ngo.pl?mode=wim&search=A. For more information on governments that are interested in having youth on their delegation, please contact Caroline (caroline@iycn.in)

You will be responsible for:

• Ensuring that you have a valid passport and visa for Denmark, as well as any other nations on your travel route (we can provide visa support letters and visa information from the Danish embassies)

• Investigating your travel options, first exploring overland travel where possible to reduce emissions, and advising the YFJ of your desired dates, times and modes of travel, including specific details for booking.

• Exploring other local funding options from your university, place of work, local NGO, regional network, or exchange organization, and notifying the team if successful at any such fundraising. The more funds you can raise locally means the more youth delegates we will be able to support.

• Getting accredited by an observer organisation

• Finding your own accommodation, although you can seek help from the international youth community

To contact the youth community who are organising around the UNFCCC meetings, join the email list at http://groups.google.com/group/unfccc_youth For broader information on the youth climate movement around the world, see http://groups.google.com/group/youthclimateinfo

All participants must comply with the following criteria:

• Committed to prepare and actively take part in all parts of the Conference of Youth and the Conference of Parties

• Aged between 18-30

• Available to come to the UNFCCC negotiations for at least two weeks (including travel) between December 3 and December 22

• Having a strong interest and experience in climate change and/or sustainable development issues, or in UN and regional processes related to development and/or environment.

• From a country in the global South

• Be accredited by an observer organisation by the 13th November

Decisions will also incorporate the following criteria:

• Recommended by a Youth Constituency partner organisation, by your national youth delegation, by a university or by a youth NGO

• Having a basic knowledge of the UNFCCC process and the issues at stake during the negotiations

• Having taken climate action in your community, campus, or your own home

• Coming from a region that is severely impacted by climate change; a nation represented by an official delegation of only 2 representatives that is willing to integrate youth as official

delegates; a region that is seriously underrepresented in the youth delegation; or a region that does not yet have youth delegates that have been guaranteed funding by other sources.

• Ability to share experience and act as a multiplier after the COP (reporting, leading workshops…) as indicated by your organizational affiliation

• Having taken part in a training in view of participating to the COP15

Due to the high amount of applications foreseen, we hope that you can understand that we will only be able to respond to the selected applicants. The selected applicants will be notified by 10th November. Good luck!

Disclaimer: the amount of participants to be funded will depend on the final agreement with donors with regards to the amount. The selection team therefore reserves the right to adapt the amount of selected applicants to the final funding amount. The YFJ is facilitating part of the process but will in no case be liable for any change in the above stated conditions, and will follow the terms of references under its Memorendum of Understanding with the UNFCCC pending its signature.

–
Wilson Ang
Founder / President
Environmental Challenge Organisation (Singapore)
http://www.eco-singapore.org
T: +65 6333 5543
F: +65 6333 5537
H: +65 9147 4541

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