Title: United Nations Development Programe Youth Climate Change Project
Location:
Global
Categories: Human Rights & Equity
Environment & Urbanization
Arts & Media
Climate Change
Status:
In Progress
Timeline:
December 1 07 to August 12 08
Description:
The United Nations Development Programme’s (UNDP) Human Development Report (HDR) is probably the most widely read document published by the UN every year. But the reports are not widely read by young people, which is why the UN is inviting young people to make a short, colourful summary of it. The process is the same as before. If you did not take part last year, what we do is to create a task force of individual young people, school groups, etc. and get them to bring to life the key messages of the HDR with opinion pieces, reports, poems and stories, paintings, cartoons and photographs - so that everyone can understand these messages. The result is a beautiful, fascinating book entirely written and illustrated, designed and edited by young people. You can view the one we did last year at: http://hdr.undp.org/external/hdr2006/water the design and editing is done by the young international interns here at the world-famous Peace Child International centre, near Cambridge, UK. Contributors can watch the book come together, page by page, on the website. Also via the website, you can suggest a different story, another photograph, painting or design element, just as if you were sitting at the Editorial Meeting table.
VIDEOS: This year, the UNDP has asked us to go further and invite young people to create 30 to 90 second videos
on how climate change affects you and what you feel should be done about it. There are three ways you can contribute:
1) If you have a camera and the necessary editing equipment, you can go ahead and make your video. They can be short, dramatic pieces, scripted and acted out by you and your friends; or a documentary cut together to make an impactive statement about what you feel to be a key aspect of climate change. Or a mix of the two. The finished videos should be uploaded to our special site at: http://www.youtube.com/groups/unclimatechange.
2) If you have a camera, but no editing equipment, you can send us a tape, along with a script of how you would like it to be edited, and we will edit it here – IF we feel the material and idea is of sufficient quality.
3) If you have no camera but a great idea, write a script: we – and the UNDP – will review all of them and select the best 4-5 scripts, arrange production details – and edit the tape into a finished movie.
You will be able to view all the videos on the Youtube group - and choose your favourites. The best 15-20 videos submitted will be edited into a single 30-minute show introduced by a celebrity host. It will be distributed by the UN to broadcasters around the world in time for International Youth Day – August 12th 2008.
What are the Key Messages this HDR delivers about Climate Change?
• Climate Change - its effect on People: We've had the UN scientists' report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC); we've had the report on its economic impact in the Stern Report. This Human Development Report is about people and how we are all affected by climate change.
• The poor suffer most from Climate Change - and will suffer more: Given that 2.6 billion live in poverty, unable to meet their basic needs, these people are likely to be the first to face the impacts of dangerous climate change and suffer human development reversals. The Report tells that the poor are already suffering, and will suffer more, as a result of climate change. But we will all suffer later. In fact, some rich countries are already seeing the impacts of climate change and are dealing with its consequences. If we do not avoid dangerous climate change, the consequences will be more severe and widespread.
• Urgency: The Report argues that climate change needs urgent action: today we are living with what we did yesterday; tomorrow we will all live with what we do today. We need to take action now.
• Climate change - a serious threat to our ability to meet the MDGs: - we depend on our world’s eco- systems for water, for agriculture, for our industries, our livelihoods and many other aspects of our life - climate change poses a serious threat to our ability to meet the eight Millennium Development Goals especially as it is the poor who are already seeing its impacts.
• Climate change - an immense threat to Human Rights: The UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights talks of the inalienable rights of the human family to “freedom, justice and peace”. Climate change is an immense threat to those rights. Yet it is also a reminder that we are a single, interdependent human family sharing a common home on Planet Earth. The UN has a key role in the discussion, and the action, on climate change to protect human rights.
• Both Mitigation and Adaptation needed: Mitigation means taking action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to avoid more climate change. It is about transforming the way that countries produce and use energy and changing industry and activities to reduce or eliminate emissions. Adaptation is the way people respond to new or changed conditions in climate, such as more droughts, flooding or severe storms. It means adapting our current and future lifestyles, towns, cities, infrastructure - everything! - to take account of climate change. The report states that both actions need to be taken to fight climate change and the threats it poses to humanity.
• UN is well-placed to give Leadership: Climate change is exactly the kind of global challenge that the UN was set up to address. The Secretary-General has made it his personal priority to work with Member States to ensure that the United Nations takes effective leadership in the fight against climate change.
Almost every government now puts climate change high up their national agenda. We know it is important - and could actually have catastrophic consequences in many regions of this planet. Yet, to date, our behaviour has changed very little: we drive our cars as much if not more; we are taking more holidays in more further-away places than ever. And our schools are still more likely to teach us about ancient history than the near-future when the impact of climate change will irreversibly affect our lives.
For additional information on the project please download the call out letter available in English, French and Spanish.
Background:
Peace Child International empowers young people to take responsibility for peace, human rights and the environment through education, leadership development and direct participation in the events that shape our world community.
Peace Child International has worked with the United Nations to create publications for youth. Last year Peace Child along with the UNDP created a youth publication on water. To view the publication please visit http://www.peacechild.org/water
Objectives:
To involve, educate and empower youth on the issue of Climate Change
Needs:
Youth to create and submit articles, drawings, photos and videos for the youth climate change publication and video project.
Contact Name: Adam MacIsaac
Contact Email Address: media@peacechild.org
Contact Phone Number: 00 44 (0) 1763 274 765
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