I had the pleasure of working on the YOUNGA Climate Report this fall. This landmark report brought together 100+ young people from around the world- largely from the global south- to write a communiqué to be used as a guide for policymakers. YOUNGA was created out of a need to have young people's voices represented and used as recommendations at places like the United Nations General Assembly.
Major Recommendations:
1. Implement sustainable agricultural technologies and innovations to effectively tackle food insecurity and waste
Government actors and businesses should encourage bottom-up solutions that use local knowledge and case studies to scale and replicate regenerative agricultural solutions. Governments and businesses should also de-privatize agriculture and promote cooperation, technology transfers, and knowledge sharing through hackathons, etc. Finally governments should support farmer transitions to increase resiliency and sustainability in food production.
2. Increase protection and restoration of land , water and air affected by climate change and the communities surrounding them.
International institutions like UNEP, UNFCC, and UNCHR should focus on protecting and empowering communities impacted by climate change, including assessment, support, and procedures for people displaced by climate change. WTO should also establish guidelines and explore cross-border emissions, that largely affect global south emissions, while profiting firms headquartered in the global north. Finally there should be an increase in investments in nature based carbon storage storage projects and in climate adaptation measures for communities affected by climate disruption.
3. Regulate financial accountability for emissions and invest in renewable energy solutions
UNFCCC and UNEP should set a price of at least $135 per ton of C02 and the WTO should set Greenhouse Gas Emission standards that include partners and subsidiaries because not doing so disproportionately harms communities in the global south. The WTO and UN should also set climate finance standards that address challenges in transparency and the issue of double counting. Revenues from carbon mechanisms should go towards renewable energy projects. Finally the World Bank and IMF should invest in renewable energy electrification projects for least developed countries, and ensure public financing is equitable, affordable, and fair.
4. Prioritize vulnerable communities in decision-making processes and address the intersectional impacts of climate change
Programs and policies should ensure women are being connected to the transition to renewable energy. Civil Society organizations should also adopt and implement the impact of climate on women and create safeguards to ensure the safety of women and girls in climate affected and disaster affected communities. Women and indigenous communities should also should also be in consultation bodies at UN agencies and government should adopt a community engagement policy that commits to FPIC- (Free, Prior, and Informed Consent) for indigenous peoples' consent to projects affecting their territories. Finally, the UNFCC and UNCHR should endorse the term "climate refugee" to serve as guide for policymakers and governments to take action.
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