Youth unite at UN climate deal to ensure survival of all peoples and countries

Bonn, Germany 10 June 2009

There is a growing coalition of young people who are united around a common and shared vision for a bold, just and long-term global climate treaty the safeguards the survival of all peoples and countries. 50 youth are currently in Bonn, attending the UN Climate Talks.

The Wilderness Society's Gemma Tillack (Climate Change and Forests Campaigner) in Bonn, Germany, is one of 50 youth representatives attending the UN Climate Talks.

The youth are actively encouraging all Government's to commit to deep, immediate reductions in greenhouse gas emissions to ensure a safe climate for future generations

On the 8th of June, the youth formed a coalition of youth, Environment groups, Indigenous Peoples Organisations, and Womens groups to ask all countries to commit to protecting the world's forests, and ending deforestation and the industrial scale logging of primary forests.

Our Tasmanian campaigner Gemma Tillack spoke on behalf of the youth in Bonn at a press conference and said "Survival is not negotiable".

"The climate deal signed in Copenhagen needs to ensure the survival of all countries and people. The immediate protection of the world's forests should be part of the climate solution. Forests are vital for life on earth. They provide us with clean air, clean water, they sequester and safely store large amounts of carbon, and they are an important part of our global and cultural identity. Protecting forests is no longer just an option, it is essential to ensure a safe climate for us and for our kids".

"I have a special message for Prime Minister Rudd, and all heads of Government. Our survival is in your hands. We trust that you will take immediate action to stop deforestation, and industrial logging of primary forests. We are depending on you to protect our forests for our future and provide us with a healthy, ecologically sustainable, low carbon future.

This coalition of youth will continue to work together and grow in numbers to ensure a strong climate action in Australia and a bold, just and long-term global treaty at the UN talks in Copenhagen in December.

Read more

• World's youth deliver survival plea to UN climate talks: halt deforestation and industrial logging of primary forests >>
• The Wilderness Society works to secure a strong climate deal  >>
  

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Download:

Youth REDD Submission (PDF document - 117Kb)
- International Youth Delegation submissions to the UN climate negotiations on Reducing Emissions on Deforestation and forest Degradation (REDD).

Youth REDD Indigenous people submission (PDF document - 107Kb )
Indigenous peoples rights and REDD and, Land-use and Land-use Change and
Forestry (LULUCF)

To keep up to date on what is happening at the climate talks visit these Twitter sites:
www.twitter.com/REDDScoop
www.twitter.com/climatechange