We are not drowning, we are fighting: Youth Champions for Climate Change

Over the last twelve months, local youth have been learning about and implementing initiatives to adapt to the impact of climate change.

Now they are coming together in Port Vila to share their experiences and to collectively advocate on issues around how climate change is affecting the Pacific. Youth of Vanuatu and other pacific islands will come together in Port Vila, from October 13 to 17, to learn about adapting to the impact of climate change.

The theme for this year symposium is Youth working together as Climate Change Champions (CCC) for Adaptation Actions Now and Tomorrow!

Vanuatu is a small island-developing nation vulnerable to the unavoidable impacts of climate change.

Sea level rise, more regular extremes in weather patterns causing drought, heavy rains and higher intensity cyclones, are great challenges that require people to prepare for uncertainty and adapt. Children and young people have the potential to make a very real contribution to climate change responses and disaster risk reduction; but their capacity as active citizens and agents of change has been largely overlooked. The symposium will provide youth, as future leaders, opportunities to learn more about the climate change issues affecting their country and communities, and give them the opportunity to learn about adaptation options already being implemented so that they can also actively participate as agents of change.

National Youth Climate Change Symposium is an annual event part of the Government of Vanuatu’s National Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Week. The national week is coordinated by the Vanuatu National Advisory Board on Climate Change & Disaster Risk Reduction (NAB) in partnership the Port Vila Municipality and several civil society groups and international organizations including Save the Children, Youth Challenge Vanuatu, SPC-GIZ, Red Cross Vanuatu, OXFAM, 350 Vanuatu, Vanuatu Climate Action Network (VCAN) and CARE International.

The Organizing Committee reflected on last year’s inaugural CCA youth symposium that brought together over 280 youth across Vanuatu to Port Vila to learn about Climate Change. This year’s focus will be on the Adaptation initiatives, and also on how collective collaboration and sharing gives rise to a stronger advocacy voice.

The National Youth Climate Change Symposium will primarily be based at the Chief’s Nakamal compound, with the opening march beginning at the Melcoffee Junction and proceeding to Seafront. All activities that will follow will remain at Sea Front and ended with peaceful protest march beginning from Tagabe roundabout and finishing at Sea Front Stage.

The week long program will culminate in a peaceful protest to send a message to countries emphasizing on the importance of their cutting their emission of carbon dioxide to atmosphere. We are not drowning, we are fighting is the strong message for those countries.

Youth are all encouraged to join other youth to become a Climate Change Champion working to adapt to the impacts of climate change. The symposium is free for all to attend.