Taking on the challenge

Global citizens under 30 are inheriting a hotter, more unpredictable climate that has enormous implications for their future. But they also represent the power to change, by calling on policy–makers, implementing innovative solutions and building a global movement of youth climate champions. 2021 is a year of climate action, young activists say. Their network aims to inspire, empower and mobilize a generational movement to take positive action on climate change.

Surveys

w Global emergency Over half a million young people aged 14-18 in 50 countries took part in a survey by the UNDP this year. Almost two thirds viewed climate change as a global emergency.

w Climate change and loss of biodiversity A survey by UNESCO based upon more than 15,000 responses, revealed that of all the challenges faced by the world, climate change and loss of biodiversity were the biggest according to 67% of respondents, 57% of whom under 35, and 35% under 25.

w Environmental sustainability A third international survey asked youth about sustainable development goals (SDGs) and the number one priority to make the world a better place in 2030. Environmental sustainability was top of the list. Among them, in Asia, Europe, mainland China, and North America China, the majority prioritized “a sustainable environment” above all else.

Sources undp.org/publications/peoples-climate-vote

• en.unesco.org/news/unesco-world-2030-survey-report-highlights-youth-concerns-over-climate-change-and-biodiversity

• worldbenchmarkingalliance.org/news/young-people-and-the-sustainability-agenda-three-avenues-for-impact/

Carbon Emissions

There are very large inequalities in per capita emissions across the world. Countries with some of the highest per capita emissions – and therefore high total emissions – are the US, Australia and Canada, but many countries across Europe have much lower emissions. The choice of energy sources plays a key role in countries like the UK and France, where a much higher share of electricity is produced from nuclear and renewable sources. This means a much lower share of electricity is produced from fossil fuels: in 2015, only 6% of France’s electricity came from fossil fuels, compared to 55% in Germany.

Hong Kong Carbon Footprint

The city's per capita carbon emissions in 2019 - the latest complete data available - were 5.9 tonnes. The government has pledged to reduce this to between 3.3 and 3.8 tonnes by 2030.

(2019)

Sources

• ourworldindata.org/co2-emissions#co2-emissions-by-region

• population.un.org/wpp/Publications/Files/WPP2019-Wallchart.pdf

• worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/carbon-footprint-by-country

Young people have been participating in international negotiations concerning environmental and sustainable development issues since the Rio Earth Summit in 1992. Their movement is called the International Youth Climate Movement or YouNGO (Youth NGOs) and it is one of the non-government constituencies represented at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

The next the annual UNFCCC negotiations are in Glasgow this year (COP26). YouNGO will have a Spokes Council there where youth can network and collaborate on climate issues. Young people everywhere can be part of YouNGO as well as youth organizations.

• worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/carbon-footprint-by-country

• scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3046358/ watch-your-carbon-footprint-hong-kongs-getting

• data.worldbank.org/indicator/EN.ATM.CO2E.KT

Global youth response

w In 2001, American students of the SustainUS youth organization followed the call of the European Youth Forum and began to send delegations to participate in worldwide negotiations, principally through the United Nations.

w In September 2006, the Canadian Youth Climate Coalition was launched, soon followed by the Australian Youth Climate Coalition, the Indian Youth Climate Network and the UK Youth Climate Coalition w More recently, coalitions in Africa, China, Japan, Pacific Islands and South Asia have been established with the same mission. w In 2020 in Hong Kong, the Local Conference of Youths in Hong Kong (LCOY HK), CarbonCare InnoLab (CCIL), together with Hong Kong Youth for Climate Action (HKYCA), co-organized its inaugural virtual meeting and position papers presented were submitted to UN YOUNGO as part of the global youth climate positioning for COP 26 this year.

Sources

• en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Youth_Climate_Movement

• ccinnolab.org/en/LCOYHK