The Copenhagen Journey

Wednesday, 13 January 2010 | posted by Matt_BC
Climate change, Environment, Global Youth Summit 2009

I’m sure everyone knows what came out of the Copenhagen negotiations a few weeks ago (or rather, what didn’t come out of them), but rarely have we seen the journey that people have gone through to get there, be it physically getting to COP-15, be it the emotional journey once they are there, or be it the vision for the road ahead.

But the UK Youth Delegation had, as one of the amazing group, a film-maker who has put together a series of short films (no more than 10 minutes each), charting that journey. Its honest, emotional and inspiring, and I think it gives a new perspective on the whole process – one that isn’t filled with the anger or despair that is shown in the media.

Follow the journey of these young people at http://www.youtube.com/user/AdamUKYCC

But it’s not all about those who were in Copenhagen. I know that, especially in the UK, huge numbers of people went to COP-15, even though they knew they didn’t have access to the actual conference centre, but just to stand outside and make their voices heard as a global community. Whilst important, we also ran the risk of not ensuring that our negotiators there, the ones that in the end have all the power, could hear the message coming from their home country – a message of hope, of trust and of responsibility.

On the 12th December, half way through the negotiations, TckTckTck (a global coalition of organizations) organized an international day of action calling for a ‘real deal’ in Copenhagen. In the UK, it was the UK Youth Climate Coalition that was asked to do it – a big deal considering an international coalition was asking a youth group to organize the UK’s lead action… and in just a week?

It was a mighty challenge, especially as the funds they were providing only came in 4 days before the event, but we managed to pull off something pretty special. We spent the day outside famous landmark locations in London getting people to write down their names, how old they will be in 2050 (when most of the climate targets are set for) and what they want us all to protect from climate change. We then took a picture of each person with their personal message outside their respective landmark so that we could send our personal messages to the negotiations. We then gathered for one of UKYCC’s trademark flashdances, but this time in the dark with torches, and we held a candlelit vigil as part of simultaneous events happening around the world. Finally, and as a last minute addition, we projected the logo of the day onto our Houses of Parliament for all to see. Sending the biggest message yet – to all of our politicians that work there – that we were calling for a fair, ambitious and binding deal.

Some of the message pictures are attached, as well as a couple of the dance and vigil, and one of the projection so you can get a better idea. The video of the flashdance is here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4oxjUXFYCM

I do feel like all of this, the videos and the day of action, gives me a bit of hope – and I hope that it gives you some too. We may be young people, some of us who have not yet had the chance to vote, who sometimes feel voiceless and trodden on, but sometimes we can make a really, really big difference. We can create the opportunities to get heard (like the youth delegations to these negotiations), and when given the opportunity, we can pull off amazing events to get our message across. I hope that all of you feel, even just a little bit more empowered to go and make your voices heard. As young people, as people who are aware, who have their eyes open, we belong to a very special community, a very privileged community, a community where hope, empowerment and togetherness prevail. I hope we can all make the best of that.

So anyway, I though I should just drop a line to let you guys know what I’ve been working on since GYS (I was one of the two coordinators for the day of action in London), and as a bit of a message of hope. I hope you are all well, enjoy the videos and take care.

Ellie