New York+20 on IISD!

NY+20 was published on IISD's ENB  at the Second Round of ‘Informal-Informal’ Negotiations on the zero draft of outcome document of the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD or Rio+20). More on the article here.

New York+20: Youth-led action for sustainable development  Organized by Columbia University Coalition for Sustainable Development

Esperanza Garcia, President, Columbia University Coalition for Sustainable Development, applauded the actions by the “real” leaders at the forefront of sustainable development. Elizabeth Thompson, Rio+20 Executive Coordinator, said it is a wonderful time to be young as the challenges present many opportunities for creating new ways of “acting.” Amb. Josephine Ojiambo, Permanent Representative of Kenya to the UN, said “those not able to, must be persuaded to, or asked not to hold back” the process of change.

This event presented youth and students with an opportunity to voice their opinions on sustainable development at the UN. Esperanza Garcia, President, Columbia University Coalition for Sustainable Development, moderating the event, said the youth’s role in the negotiating process leads to better policy formulation and implementation. Elizabeth Thompson, Rio+20 Executive Coordinator, spoke on the Higher Education Sustainability Initiative, which asks universities to commit to: shrinking their ecological footprint; addressing issues of water waste, energy and transport; greening their physical structures; supporting the development of a body of literature on sustainability and sustainable development; and teaching sustainable development as a core module across disciplines. Ambassador Josephine Ojiambo, Permanent Representative of Kenya to the UN, commending the activities of the NY+20 initiative, warned of the economic and environmental hazards that disproportionately affect the youth, and encouraged young people to use their energy to “shake off” complacency and old habits of unsustainable living. Kate Offerdahl, Columbia University, applauded the efforts of New York youth as well as internet participants from across the world in producing their formal statement. Brendan Guy, Yale University, read the formal statement to the UN, highlighting: accountable sovereignty; inclusive representation of youth in international governance; and responsible finance though stringent environmental and social impact assessments. Céline Ramstein, Sciences Po Environment, told of the major cities who have joined in the youth movement called MyCityPlus 20. She described how the idea was realized through social media and stressed the importance of engaging the youth in generating enthusiasm into the sustainability process. Ivana Savic, Children and Youth Major Group, outlined the focus of the group’s actions, which is to provide policy inputs and build a movement around sustainable development in the form of proper implementation, focused on youth needs. Jean-Pierre Thébault, French Ambassador for the Environment, warned of the many difficult subjects that need to be addressed prior to Rio+20, and said that the youth’s “job” only starts at Rio, continuing for the next two to three decades.

Youth and student representatives from NY+20 discussed sustainable development perspectives.

More Information: http://www.newyorkplus20.wordpress.com/ Contacts:  Esperanza Garcia <newyorkplus20@gmail.com>