Among the young people of Youth4Climate, who are planning the future of the environment in Milan

Among the young people of Youth4Climate

Over 400 young people from 189 countries gathered in the Lombard capital to work on proposals to be discussed within the COP26

Three young participants in Youth4Climate representing Mexico, Bolivia and Chile (photo Antonio Piemontese) It has begun with bad news Youth4Climate, the assembly of young sustainability leaders that opened in Milan with the task of collecting innovative ideas to present to ministers and officials of Pre Cop26, the preparatory conference of Cop26: Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison could do not attend the official Glasgow event at the beginning of November. The suspicion is that the reasons are linked to the desire to continue the sale and exploitation of coal and natural gas well beyond 2030. Not attending means not signing.

If a good day starts in the morning, the path for the conference scheduled in Scotland promises to be uphill. Part of a triad that includes the G8 and G20, the event is the most demanding from the point of view of negotiations, because it is the largest: it brings together countries with very different economic and social interests. Who knows what the hundreds of young people from all over the world who gathered in Milan with their loads of ideas that are anything but trivial for the future thought while reading the news. Welcoming them on the first day was a lashing Greta Thunberg, who heavily contested the inaction of governments.

Climate crisis and gender issues

What is certain is that at the entrance, after the compulsory Covid-19 test for everyone, you can breathe energy. Four hundred young people from 189 countries, selected out of a total of 8,700 applications received. Curricula ranging from technical to humanistic studies. Stories ready to intertwine around four thematic tables to talk respectively about climate ambition, sustainable recovery, involvement of non-state actors and a society more aware of climate challenges.

There are those who arrive on the other side of the world, those from conflict zones such as Iraq or Syria, those who have experienced climate change firsthand with its devastating consequences, like the delegates from Haiti. All are united, however, by the desire to look forward. And from the awareness of being lucky to take part in an all-encompassing experience, capable of making a change in life.

“The agenda relating to sustainability and that on gender issues are completely connected - says Julieta Martinez , from Chile, as he walks into the room where the plenary will be held -. Today 70% of the poorest people in the world are women, as well as 80% of climate migrants, but people don't know it. Women are in a state of complete vulnerability, especially those of indigenous communities and living in rural areas ".

Paula Flores, Bolivian, instead thinks about the role of companies:" They can do a lot, I know because I work in the energy sector, which is the one that produces the most carbon dioxide emissions. But we're not here just for the promises: we want concrete actions that impact people's lives. Rich and developing countries must both do their part ".

A communication problem

On international exploitation, Mexican Brenda Rodriguez has clear ideas:" Foreign companies they come to our country, dig mines and take away our resources without anyone opposing it. In Mexico, the climate crisis is not among the government's priorities ".

And, as an information designer, he emphasizes the theme of communication:" I arrived in Milan to present my infographics that talk about effects of climate change on the most vulnerable segments of the population. Because? I think that art and education can be important to achieve our goals. Much of the communication on these issues is in English and is designed for the privileged classes. Instead, the role of information is crucial ".

The two speeches

Before going to the work tables, the young people listened to (and applauded) the speeches of Vanessa Nakate, activist Ugandan, and Greta Thunberg. The first pointed out that industrialized countries have not kept their promise to donate 100 billion dollars to the poorest ones to help them in the ecological transition. Thunberg emphasized the rhetoric of the intergovernmental conferences: "Our leaders cannot say they are trying: they pretend to have ambitious climate policies, but then continue to exploit the mines."

Voice to the young

"This is the first time that we have attempted the experiment of a 'government of young people'. We hope that interesting proposals will emerge ”, the minister for ecological transition Roberto Cingolani commented:“ Also because these guys will be the decision makers of tomorrow ”. Among the participants, two Italians: Federica Gasbarro (26 years old), graduating in biological sciences, and Daniele Guadagnolo (28), graduated in economics and who deals with marketing. Both have been involved for years on the issues of the climate crisis.

The work of the tables will continue until September 30th. The challenge for the young people is to translate the ideas into a single document, which will be approved and presented on that date during a high-level event, where young people will meet heads of state and ministers. The President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella, Prime Minister Mario Draghi and Boris Johnson, Minister Cingolani and Cop26 President Alok Sharma will be present. At that point, the ball will return to the adults. But, and this is clear to the leaders of tomorrow, only temporarily.


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