Representing NZ youth at climate change negotiations

Ten young people from New Zealand will go to Copenhagen, Denmark in December to be part of the international climate change conference.

Around 20,000 people from all around the world are going, arguably making it one of the most significant events in human history.

Known as “COP15”, the conference is led by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

This is where the future of international climate change policy and successor to the Kyoto Protocol will be agreed.

With an event of this scale it was considered crucial that a youth voice be present at the negotiations.

The 10 youth delegates are from The New Zealand Youth Delegation (NZYD). It’s the first time NZYD will be going to the conference as a recognised non-governmental organisation (NGO).

The role of the youth delegates is to facilitate the voice of what young people want and act as advocates.

“They [NZYD] are in independent delegation so they don’t have a particular stance, are not politically aligned or activists,” says Amanda Judd, one of the delegates.

Judd was originally in the steering committee to get the project going, but applied and was accepted to be a delegate.

The NZYD has joined with Victoria University of Wellington, an accredited NGO, who have allowed them to register as delegates under their accreditation.