Turning the Tide at the UN

 

Twelve young activists and climate witnesses between the age of 16 and 25 were selected by and international jury to showcase their climate change stories and photos during the 10th session of the Human Rights Council, showing how climate change affects their lives, livelihoods and human rights. The exhibition was opened on 3 March by Caroline Morrissey, Director of the British Council Switzerland, Dr Ahmed Shaheed, Foreign Minister of the Maldives and Dr Marco Ferrari, member of the board of directors of the Global Risk Forum Davos, all of whom stressed the importance of giving young people a voice to address the challenges they are facing today. The audience was deeply touched by the enthusiasm, dedication and initiative the twelve winners put into their submissions. The message that the exhibition sends out is one of hope, that young people around the world are actively working to improve the state of the world and ultimately to help turn the tide.

Turning the Tide is a project organised by the British Council, the Maldives Mission in Geneva and the Global Risk Forum GRF in Davos. Young people from around the world were asked to tell their stories of how they live in and adapt to the changing climate. We received 45 entries from over 30 countries, all of which are on display in the online exhibition at www.turningthetide.ch.

Four participants are alumni of the British Council’s International Climate Champions Programme and one is a Global Changemaker.