Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
Copenhagen, Denmark
Agents of Change or AoC is one of the flagship programs of IYCN that aims
at engaging youth more effectively in the international climate negotiation
process. The negotiations are vital to figure out how the world will tackle
the issue of Climate Change.
The Agents of Change program began in 2008 when IYCN sent the first
ever representatives of the Indian youth to the COP-14 conference in 2008.
It was the first time that a delegation from India was participating in the
conference and negotiations. Youth from all over the world attend the talks,
and the Agents of Change program made sure that the voice of Indian
youth was present as well.
Some of the activities that the Indian Youth delegation took part in 2008
are mentioned here.
In 2009, the Agents of Change program sent the second youth delegation
to Copenhagen for the Conference of Parties 15 in December 2009. The
delegation was chosen through a detailed application process that made
sure some of the best young minds made it to Copenhagen for the
conference.
HIGHLIGHTS
Some of the highlights of the Indian Youth Delegation, prior and during the COP were:
A 20 member delegation from 13 Indian states bringing diversity, expertise and enthusiasm.
Organizing the biggest environment campaign on October 24th with 350.org
Active participation in the Youth constituency of the UNFCCC – YOUNGO
Organizing three side events for the Indian youth and the global south youth to identify
common voices and efforts on the Climate Change.
Participating and organizing various spontaneous direct actions with youth from other countries
along with interventions and speeches at high level side events
Making submissions to the UNFCCC on Climate Change policy
Working with CAN, CANSA, GCCA et al to produce collaborative responses on the negotiations
every day and also interacting with Indian Govt. negotiators
Covered by major mainstream media channels from India and other countries
Usage of new media for outreach to a big outside audience
Funded and supported by NGO’s, Governments and Corporations
Active participation in Klima-forum 09-People’s Summit on Climate Change
Application Process
• The application process aimed at selecting a big number of youth from the
country who will work towards COP15, not just in Copenhagen but also in
India during the conference dates. From a mass of 150 applications across
the country, around 90 were chosen as the grounds team for the program
and were given chance to perform and win themselves a chance to be part
the final delegation of 20 young people.
• The final delegation was selected in the first week of August and work
began to prepare as a team for the conference. These 20 delegates ranged
from students to social entrepreneurs to young professionals.
• The final chosen delegation was diverse and the selection process made
sure equity in merit, age and gender were maintained.
Agents of Change – Retreat
One of the major deliverables for the delegation was to engage with
the negotiations at the policy level. This happened through the
following ways:
It’s Getting Hot in Here: Dozens of youth congregated outside the Tycho Brahe plenary hall in the Bella
Centre for a flash mob dance highlighting the need for urgent action on climate change.
December 8, 2009
Lost and Found Carbon LULUCF action: To highlight the need for Annex 1 countries to account for carbon
emissions from forest management, youth set up a ‘lost and found booth’ in the main hallway of the Bella
Centre and urged leaders to make accounting for forest management mandatory in the LULUCF text.
Bed-in: Urging leaders to ‘wake up’, youth lay down outside the plenary hall in their night suits, ‘waking up’
as negotiators left the room and sang "Give Youth A Chance”.
December 9, 2009
Thunderstorm action: Using their bodies, youth created a thunderstorm which can be seen here.
Youth from island countries also gave short speeches urging leaders to take swift action and form a
strong deal.
December 11, 2009
Mountain Action: South Asian youth formed a human pyramid to depict the steady decline of the
Himalayan glaciers and the subsequent impact of this on surrounding countries. The action
highlighted the need to preserve and protect mountains and was followed by a song and the signing
of a mountain pledge.
Christmas Elf Action: Dressed up as elves and singing “14 days of climate change” (an adaptation of
the popular carol 12 days of Christmas), youth working on REDD policy met negotiators outside the
plenary hall prior to the final drafting of the REDD text to hand them the youth demands on forests.
Action with Project Survival Pacific: Youth from around the world donned their traditional wear to
speak to leaders and the media about the unique challenges climate change presented for their
countries.
December 12, 2009
Global Day of Action on Climate Change: 100,000 people took to the streets of Copenhagen
and walked from the Parliament Hall to the Bella Centre calling for a fair, ambitious and binding
treaty at COP15.
December 17, 2009
Hunger for Survival: An event in solidarity with the fasters of the Climate Justice Fast and the
millions of people around the world who are going hungry and will continue to go hungry due to
Climate Change; youth around the world fasted for 24 hours.
A candelight vigil for survival was held on the evening of December 17.
Indian Youth composed and sang a song about the negotiations, saying "I wish I was Bolivian"
in reference to Bolivia's strong proposal of limiting Global Warming to 1 deg C, capping
atmospheric CO2 at 300ppm, and the call to 100% reductions by 2040 for industrialized nations.
As the ambassador exited the hall, they surrounded and serenated him. They were invited to
meet the Bolivian President Evo Morales, and did a repeat of the song at Evo Morales' press
conference on Thursday the 17th.
December 18, 2009
Youth at an incredible
march with 100,000 non
violent protesters on the
streets of Copenhagen ,
calling for Climate Justice
and a Real Deal at COP15!
Indian Youth at a side event
Safeguard the Safeguards: Youth gathered outside the plenary hall to urge
negotiators to formalize safeguards in the REDD text.
REDD choir: Youth working on REDD policy gathered outside an initial REDD
drafting meeting to urge leaders to fix the REDD deal and protect natural
forests and indigenous rights.
United Flag Action: Holding up flags from different countries the youth
conducted a silent sit-in in the main hallway of the Bella Centre to express
their dissatisfaction with the slow pace of the negotiations.
The Yesman action was done in the Hopenhagen center. This was a press
meet where
the Yesman spoke to the international media as the officials of coke and
told them that though they were one of the main sponsors for Hopenhagen
and displayed
themselves as a bottle of hope, they were actually a bottle of despair.
The rag pickers action was done by the rag picker association. They
wanted to show how India is better at recycling thanks to the rag pickers.
They did an action where they showed though the waste was mixed they
separated everything and packed them separately.
Media
In the days leading up to Copenhagen and during the conference, Indian youth received a
fair amount of media attention for their activities. The following is a list of media links that
captured the work of the delegation pre and during COP15.
Media
Fresh Air center, a GCCA created hub for online and tech savvy
campaigners proved to be a vital source of information that the
delegation made use of and also contributed to.
More from the IYD
The conference of parties in Copenhagen has left a lasting
impression on the minds of the Indian Youth Delegation.
We would like to express our gratitude to the following sponsors who made it
possible for the delegation to attend the conference.
Government of Denmark
www.ambnewdelhi.um.dk/en
Bajaj, India
www.bajajauto.com
Excel Crop Care Limited
www.excelcropcare.com
Voltas
www.voltas.com
Acara Institute
www.acarainstitute.org
Sponsors & Supporters
We would like to express our gratitude to the following sponsors and supporters
who helped us implement the program
350
www.350.org
Supporters
Rashi Jain – Photography and digital campaigning with the Indian Youth
Delegation
IYCN team from India
Rishab Khanna, Surendran Balachandran, Roselin Dey and Will Bates
from 350.org
Kartikeya Singh from the Government of Maldives delegation, IYCN
Caroline Howe from IYCN and YOUNGO
Ekta Kothari from Project Survival Media
Anna Da Costa from The World Watch Institute