(Guest blog from Louisa Casson, UK Youth Climate Coalition)
It’s high time for young people to take ownership over their future, and the organisation I’ve been involved in for the past year or so is doing just that. Nimble, self-organising, with a flat structure, positive and cutting edge, the UK Youth Climate Coalition isn’t your traditional monolithic NGO. We might not have lots of resources or money, but we have the passion and commitment and we’re able to respond to news and opportunities quickly. We’re also entirely led by volunteers under the age of 30. It’s been about a year since I applied online to start volunteering for the UK Youth Climate Coalition, and in that time I’ve delivered an intervention to the UN, sat on a panel at a festival debate and given an undergraduate lecture about the international youth climate movement, while I’m still an undergraduate. Perhaps more significantly, I’ve met some of the most inspiring, intelligent and energetic young people I know. We’re entirely run by volunteers, and we use technology as the means of organising ourselves - Dropbox, Googledocs and Google hangouts, Skype, Twitter and Facebook are the essential tools we use on a day to day basis. Our organising team lives all over the UK, so it would be impossible to function without them. What lies at the heart of the organisation is intergenerational justice and building a clean fair future. We want a fair deal from those in power to guarantee a clean, safe world for young people across this world to live in. We work to inspire, empower, unite and mobilise young people around climate change. But what does this mission loaded with verbs actually mean? 1. Growing the grassroots We want a coherent and effective social movement for a better future, so we’re focussing on local engagement by building a network of local catalysts. These community organisers will build relationships with existing movements in their local areas, equipping community campaigners with the necessary skills and know-how to make positive change. 2. Fostering a coalition We’re very grateful for the support of other NGOs, large and small (including the RSPB), who form our coalition. This wide range of organisations, drawn together by common concerns on young people and the environment, are often able to provide us with resources we can’t afford. By bringing these organisations together, we can share what we’re all doing, to build a stronger UK-based movement. 3. More green jobs We’re calling for changes to our society and economy for a better future. Our Youth for Green Jobs campaign is drawing the attention of political leaders to the opportunity to tackle youth unemployment and benefit the environment at the same time by providing young people with work in green jobs. You can support it by taking part here. 4. Building an international movement We play an active role in the International Youth Climate Movement. That’s everything from asking Poland to Unblock our Future and stop vetoing ambitious climate targets in Europe, to working with other young people from across the globe at the UN climate talks to demand ambitious and equitable progress. Often, those at the highest levels of international office show a remarkable lack of responsibility for the effect their decisions will have on generations to come. We’re there to hold them to account.
(Our youth delegation to the UN climate talks in Durban, South Africa, 2011) We’re ready for the clean, safe future young people need - we’re not afraid to go and make or demand the changes that need to happen. Follow us on Facebook and @ukycc on Twitter to keep up to date with our next steps. Why not also sign up to our newsletter on our website and support the campaigns listed above? And if you’re under 30, maybe you’d like to get involved..? Louisa Casson, UKYCC volunteer