PDF CLIMATE CHANGE TAKE ACTION NOW!

CLIMATE CHANGE

TAKE ACTION NOW!

A guide to supporting the local actions of children and young people, with special emphasis on girls and young women

CLIMATE CHANGE

TAKE ACTION NOW!

A guide to supporting the local actions of children and young people, with special emphasis on girls and young women

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Acknowledgements

This guide is produced by UNICEF and the Alliance of Youth CEOs, which includes: ? The Duke of Edinburgh's Award International Association/ The International Award Association (IAA) ? International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) ? World Alliance of YMCAs (YMCA) ? World Young Women's Christian Association (World YWCA) ? World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) ? World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM)

Support was provided by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The authors of this guide worked in collaboration with the EarthChild Institute and in consultation with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Programme on Youth, and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

The guide was prepared by the Civil Society Partnerships and Education Sections of UNICEF, under the guidance of Andres Guerrero of UNICEF and Donna Goodman of EarthChild Institute.

Technical support was provided by: Kate Brown, educational consultant; Medard Gabel, Big Picture Small World; Kate Donovan, UNICEF media section; Arturo Romboli, UNICEF Civil Society Partnerships; Suchitra Sugar, UNICEF consultant, Education cluster; Natacha Diaz, UNICEF intern; Rebecca McNaught, Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Centre.

Peer reviews were conducted by UNICEF NYHQ advisors from Child Protection, WASH, Health and ADAP sections.

Editorial Board Catherine Peter, IAA Roberta Zuchegna, IFRC Stephen Ryan, IFRC Bernadette Fischler, WAGGGS Leanne Baumung, World YWCA Lucy Mace, WOSM Rod Abson, WOSM

Tim Kamaboakai, YMCA Reuben Sessa, FAO Marisol Sanjines, UNDP Luis Betanzos, UNEP Lura Hughes, UNICEF, UK Astrid Hurley, United Nations Youth Unit

With special thanks to technical advisors: Reuben Sessa and Sibyl Nelson, FAO, and Laurence Pollier, UNFCCC.

Graphic Design by UNICEF Creative Studio, Geneva.

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CLIMATE CHANGE - TAKE ACTION NOW!

Foreword

"Protect the Earth for children. We must safeguard our natural environment, with its diversity of life, its beauty and its resources, all of which enhance the quality of life, for present and future generations. We will give every assistance to protect children and minimize the impact of natural disasters and environmental degradation on them."

A World Fit for Children, 2002, paragraph 7, section 10, United Nations General Assembly Special Session on Children, 2002

The world's population is young, with some 2.2 billion people under the age of 18. Children and young people have unique insights into solving problems in their communities, and often play a key role in the survival of their families in the event of natural disaster. We believe that by recognizing the rights and capacities of girls and boys, young women and young men, the challenges posed by climate change can be turned into opportunities for sustainable development.

This guide originates from a lively and ongoing programme of cooperation between The Alliance of Youth CEOs1 and UNICEF. We have joined together with other United Nations and nongovernmental (NGO) partners2 to build on and complement existing initiatives at global, national and local levels. The contributing organizations are committed to supporting children and young people to engage as members of society in ways that acknowledge and respond to gender roles.

Many countries are in the process of developing adaptation plans and disaster risk reduction strategies to help people adapt to changing climatic conditions where they live. We believe that it is critically important for the unique vulnerabilities, rights and capacities of children and young people to be addressed in these emerging projects, plans and policies.

1 The Alliance of Youth CEOs is composed of the World Organization of the Scout Movement, the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, the World Alliance of Young Men's Christian Associations, the World Young Women's Christian Association, the International Award Association and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

2 United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP); United Nations Development Programme (UNDP); United Nations Programme on Youth, DESA; Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO); The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC); and the Earth Child Institute (ECI).

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? UNICEF/NYHQ2006-2866/Pudlowski

This guide seeks to maximize the effectiveness of our wide-ranging networks, complementary approaches and best practices. With a collective international voice of more than 100 million members, we advocate for the inclusion of young people in climate change plans and policies. We are proud to introduce this guide as a simple example of what can be accomplished by children and young people in practical ways.

The guide is the result of a highly participatory consultative workshop and editorial review process, which involved representatives of all ages from each organization joining together to share experiences and practical approaches from a diverse range of countries and situations.

We hope that this guide will help you in your invaluable work of encouraging children and young people to `take action now' to address the challenges of climate change.

The Authors.

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CLIMATE CHANGE - TAKE ACTION NOW!

Contents

Acknowledgements

Foreword

Introducing Climate Change: Take action now!

Step 1: Getting started: find out more about climate change

Step 2: Identifying the problem

Step 3: Planning your activity

Step 4: Taking action

Step 5: Spreading the word

Step 6: How did we do?

Step 7: Next steps

Resources Factsheet: Climate change Factsheet: Facilitator's code of conduct Factsheet: Send out a press release Factsheet: Steps in evaluating your action

Sample activity: How to make a solar cooker Sample activity: Tree planting campaign Sample activity: Community risk mapping

Where to find out more

Glossary of key terms

p. 5 p. 6 p. 10 p. 20 p. 28 p. 36 p. 42 p. 48 p. 52 p. 56

p. 60 p. 63 p. 64 p. 65 p.66 p. 69 p. 71 p. 75 p. 82

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CLIMATE CHANGE - TAKE ACTION NOW!

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