MESSAGE TO LEADERS AT COP17 & RIO+20:

A message from the…  

The Global Youth Conference organized by the Earth Focus Foundation on the 17^th – 19^th of October brought together students and academics from various environmental and climate change fields. At the meetings conclusion, students were asked to formulate points that they believe should be agreed to and implemented at your conference.

We are counting on you because we believe that you can make change happen now by finding and implementing solutions to counter climate change and continuing environmental degradation. We have seen some positive results in the past, and now we are relying on you to make COP17 and Rio+20 have a real and lasting impact to ensure a sustainable future for us all.

The credit that civil society puts into climate summits is weakened as these often end with no binding commitments. We still believe that there is time to make a difference but we need immediate action plans. At the last Global Youth Conference, students have formulated the following points:

1. Actions should be a collaborative effort and agreed to simultaneously, by state parties.

1. Clear International standards should be agreed to for quantifying pollution.

1. To establish targets for reducing harmful government subsidies (on fossil fuels) and instead divert the savings on expanding renewable energy infrastructure.

1. For state parties to agree to firm targets regarding renewable energy use, to be evaluated every decade. To agree that, by the end of the 21st century, total world energy demand should be derived from renewable energy sources (2020 – 20%, 2030 – 30%….. 2100-100%).

1. To develop legal frameworks facilitating co-ownership and sharing of resources (cars).

1. To raise awareness and educate the youth about local community and environmental issues to empower and encourage them to take action.
   
   
2. Maintain the right of individual expression such as the right to holding peaceful protests.

1. Open up the process of negotiation at the COP conferences to involve more stakeholders. Create a more even playing field between the economically advantaged and disadvantaged.

THIS MESSAGE HAS BEEN DELIVERED TO THE FOLLOWING LEADERS AT THE UPCOMING CONFERENCE IN DURBAN AND RIO DE JANEIRO:

Earth Focus Foundation, Chemin Sous-Cherre 6, Collonge-Bellerive, Geneva, Switzerland

Telephone :  +41 22 704 35 00, Fax : +41 22 704 35 01, Mobile : +41 79 202 1765

www.earthfocusfoundation.org and www.earthfocus.org - Email : nicola@earthfocus.org