2009-12-09 | The COP 15 Intergenerational Commitment Book

Growing Together in a Changing Climate:

The COP 15 Intergenerational Commitment Book

Background

Since September 2008, the UNFCCC secretariat has liaised with youth organizations around the world in an effort to facilitate participation of young people in the UNFCCC process. A year later, the secretariat granted preliminary constituency status to the youth, now recognized as the YOUNGO constituency.

With the financial support of the Government of the Netherlands and input from YOUNGO, the secretariat has designed and planned a series of events to support and enhance the COP preparatory activities of the youth, increase youth participation from developing countries and support and enhance the youth contribution to COP 15.

In the heart of the “Youth Arcade,” comprised of 15 youth-related booths, the secretariat will host a UNFCCC Youth booth, where participating United Nations agencies and youth organisations will present their initiatives on climate change and youth. This will be a place for all actors to display their success stories, identify synergies and develop new partnerships. All events taking place at the booth will be included in a daily programme of events prepared and distributed by the secretariat. This programme at the booth will be promoted through the COP 15 daily programme, as well as the daily programme of the Youth Arcade.

Concept

The booth will also host a new initiative called the COP 15 Intergenerational Commitment Book (the Book), where Parties, United Nations agencies, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and the private sector will be invited to express their views on and commitments to improving the youth participation in addressing climate change. The Book will be officially launched at the Intergenerational Inquiry Side Event on 10 December, where speakers will be invited to sign it. Speakers at the youth briefings organized by the secretariat will also be invited to sign the Book.

At the end of COP 15, the Book will be presented and handed over to the Mexican Government and host of COP 16, possibly at the last briefing with the Mexican Minister.

Entries in the book will be recorded in a database and a report of initiatives and commitments will be produced and circulated through CC:iNet, the UNFCCC information network clearing house. At COP 16, the Intergenerational Side Event will be the forum to, inter alia, share the results of the initiative and launch the COP 16 Book.

Implementation Plan

8 December: Presented to LCA and KP chairs at their youth briefing

10 December: Official Launch at the Intergenerational Inquiry and promotion in the official daily programme

10-18 December: UNFCCC Youth Booth and Youth Briefings

18 December:` Hand over to Mexican Government

January - December 2010: Monitoring of commitments by YOUNGO

COP 16`: Intergenerational Side Event (Share results and launched COP 16 Book).

Actions:

Action	Person in charge	Timeline
Promote initiative amongst Parties, United Nations agencies, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and the private sector.	Brankica - Adriana - Laurence	10 - 18 December
Process entries in database	Brankica - Adriana	10 - 18 December
Liaise with the media for VIP visits	Adriana	10 - 18 December
Presentation of the Book at the Side Event	Laurence	10 December
Presentation of the Book at mini-events at the booth	Adriana	TBC
Create a report of the initiative	YOUNGO	TBD
Upload the report to CC:iNet	David
Share results of the initiative	Laurence	COP 16