Press Release: Canadian Youth Make Waves in Bali

Cross-posted from It’s Getting Hot in Here – dispatches from the Youth Climate Movement.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Canadian Youth Make Waves in Bali

NUSA DUA, INDONESIA –

The Canadian Youth Delegation (CYD) to the United Nations Climate Change conference is making waves in Bali, Indonesia during the first week of the major international summit.

“We have come half-way around the world to represent a generation frustrated with inaction” says Sasha Pippenger from Vancouver, British Columbia. “We need a Bali Breakthrough in order to produce a strong mandate for the post 2012-period when the first phase of the Kyoto Protocol expires.”

These young Canadians are a visible presence throughout the conference, using their creativity and energy to produce daily actions highlighting the need to act urgently to mitigate climate change. Yesterday, youth taught swimming lessons to help conference delegates adapt to future sea level rise brought about by climate change. Today, they are handing out climate change emergency kits.

Not only are young people involved in creative actions, they are also engaged in the policy process. Canadian youth recently met with the official Canadian delegation and are hopeful they will meet with the Minister of the Environment, John Baird, when he arrives at the conference next week. “We are pleased to have opened a dialogue with the official Canadian Delegation, we look forward to building on this opportunity, ensuring that youth engagement becomes a priority in future negotiations and throughout the year,” says Trevor Bennett from Guelph, Ontario.

 The Canadian youth delegation is part of a growing global youth movement to combat climate change. The CYD has joined forces with over 200 international youth in Bali to advocate for strong political leadership on climate change. The Canadian Youth Delegation is comprised of over 30 youth representing every province. For more information see www.cydbali.org.

Professional photographs of the delegation’s activities are available upon request.

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Contact information:

In Bali:                                                                        In Canada:

Rosa Kouri and Hannah Mckinnon                          Barbara Hayes

Email:  media@cydbali.org,                                   director@ourclimate.ca

Phone: (062) 081 337949749                               613 241 1615