12th Conference of the Parties to the Climate Change Convention - Nairobi, November 6 - 17 2006

Climate change is not just an issue for officials, governments, and scholars, but for all citizens of the global community whose lives and livelihoods are affected by the changing climate.

Youth everywhere recognize that their future is at stake; future generations will undoubtedly see the long-term effects of today’s policies. Youth deserve a voice in determining a global course of action. We, as youth of the United States of America, have organized to achieve that voice. One way to give that voice more power is to increase involvement across all sectors through education, outreach, and raising public awareness.

Our instrument for education and advocacy is SustainUS, a national network of youth advancing sustainable development and youth empowerment in the United States. We differ in our backgrounds, beliefs, and approaches to sustainable development but we share a commitment to our common future.

SustainUS continues to advocate for youth leadership across the globe. At this year’s Convention of the Parties (COP), SustainUS will be hosting a side event on Tuesday, November 10th on youth leadership in North America. Representatives from the Sierra Youth Coalition, Canadian Climate Coalition, and SustainUS will be present to discuss successes of and challenges to youth-led projects concerning climate change.

The following are issues that we have identified as being of particular concern. SustainUS acknowledges the headway that has been made in international cooperation and climate change policy, but we also note areas where improvements are needed and more work is necessary. It is critical that these issues be addressed at COP 12.

For more information, please contact:

Dominic MacCormack, SustainUS Policy Coordinator: dominic@sustainus.org

Jessica Glynn, SustainUS Policy Coordinator: jessica@sustainus.org

Juan Hoffmaister, SustainUs External Relations Coordinator: juan@sustainus.org

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Article 6: Education, Training, and Public Awareness

Deforestation and Poverty: Reducing Emissions from Deforestation in Developing Countries - LULUCF, Poverty and the South/North divide, Plantations are not forests

Market-based Opportunities: Joint Implementation and Clean Development Mechanism, Strategies for long-term success, Carbon Capture and Storage: Does it fit the bill?, Growth of CDM projects

Necessary Addendums to Kyoto

Procedural Suggestions : Adaptation, Long-term cooperative action and framework, Future Actions, Commitments