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Nordic countries keen on involving youth in climate change issues

The Swedish Environment Minister does teleconference from COP17 with students back home. The Norwegian government sets up an exhibition in Durban to engage children in climate issues. And the Nordic Council of Ministers sponsors teaching materials in six languages to empower youth to take a stand in the climate debate. The Nordic countries reach out to the younger generations to solve tomorrow’s challenges.

Dec 05, 2011

Swedish Environment Minister Lena Ek at teleconference in Durban with school class involved in the Nordic Council of Ministers' sponsored project "Climate Change in the Classroom"

Leading up to the UN Climate Change Conference in Durban, the Nordic Council of Ministers sponsored “Climate Change in the Classroom”, a website and a set of teaching materials setting up a UN negotiation game for school children to sensitize them to the complex issues involved and empower them to take on the huge task ahead.

You ask all the hard questions and think like real UN negotiators

A group of the Swedish students involved in developing the material participated in a teleconference on December 5th with Swedish Environment Minister Lena Ek, who had just landed in Durban the same day.

- You ask all the hard questions and think like real UN negotiators, said the minister during the session, where she described COP17 as a myriad of organisations, businesses, NGOs and diplomats all passionately engaged in the climate change issues being discussed.

The students wanted to know what to do if the US, China and India do not join the next Kyoto protocol and what difference Sweden - and by implication the other Nordic countries - can make in the negotiations.

In her answers, the minister emphasized the value of mediation, of showcasing innovative solutions and setting up partnerships between the developed and the developing world. See more or read a summary of the teleconference, that took place on the COP17 premises in Durban.

In the same spirit as” Climate Change in the Classroom”, the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has sponsored an exhibition aimed at engaging youth and children, named “The Animals Climate Panel”, where a congregation of animals – shown in a series of panels painted by Central African artists – realize the great danger threatening our planet and reach a sweeping climate change agreement.

The Norwegian government also has a side event on December 7th at COP17 on the need for disaster risk reduction in Africa involving children and youth, along with Save the Children and with the participation of IPCC head Rajendra K. Pachauri as well as Norwegian Environment Minister Erik Solheim.

The next week will show whether the human adults can accomplish the same task as the Animals Climate Panel. The Nordic countries are all striving to make sure coming generations are at least aware of the task ahead.

Contacts

Michael Funch
Phone +45 33960332
Email mifu@norden.org

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