Moving Forward

The holidays are over, the reflection period has subsided, and its time to get back to work. In this time, there has already been some talk of strategizing how the CYD will push forward in the coming months to build momentum for the next UN climate conference in Copenhagen.

And the momentum is building as we speak.

A CYD member from PEI has met with the PEI Ministry of Environment to discuss their climate change policies and youth involvement in the process. He hopes to use this meeting as a launching pad for further ongoing discussions between youth and the Ministry, with input being fed up the ladder, so to speak, to the Federal government.

In Ontario, youth are planning for a meeting with Liberal Leader Ignatieff in hopes of establishing a positive dialogue between youth and the Liberal Party on the climate change issue. Because Ignatieff hasn’t fully endorsed the Coalition proposal, youth will use the meeting as an opportunity to share our support and encouragement for the Coalition, while also opening the discussion to the Liberal Party’s climate change platform and how we feel it could be strengthened.

In the Yukon, a Canadian Minister’s Meeting is scheduled for February, and youth up there are organizing how to make the most of this opportunity to address our concerns to a large group of ministers from various departments.

In Alberta, pressure is continually being applied to dispel myths and reveal dirty secrets about the tar sands. Our Alberta youth reps have done a fantastic job of highlighting the issues in the mainstream media, and I have no doubt that future meetings with key politicians out there will be fruitful and effective.

At a more local level, I’m beginning the first of what I hope will be a series of talks about the climate change conferences and what we need to do next, beginning this Saturday with a panel discussion on transportation and climate change. I will then deliver a recap of the Poznan climate conference and the role of Copenhagen in a stable climate future for municipal staff. Following that, I am arranging presentations with various organizations and groups in the community and abroad, hoping I can spread the message of urgency and the need to act now to as many people as possible.

Let the work begin. Nose to the grindstone, here we go!