How world leaders address climate change and biodiversity loss is closely tied to the future of the planet and of young people, yet their voices are not articulated properly in the decisions pertaining to issues that will likely affect them more than any other group.
As 196 countries chalk out a post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) during the COP15 conference here – a process that began at the UN Biodiversity Conference four years ago in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt — there has been a sustained push for the inclusion of youth, women, and gender minorities in determining the targets to address biodiversity loss, and how they will be implemented.
In the Convention on Biological Diversity process, Parties have consulted with non-state actors such as the Women’s Caucus, International Indigenous Forum on Biodiversity, and the Global Youth Biodiversity Network (GYBN), stated Basile van Havre, Co-Chair for the CBD’s Post-2020 Open Ended Working Group.
A UNESCO “World in 2030” Survey Report published last year highlighted concerns of the youth over climate change and biodiversity loss.
The report shows that climate change and loss of biodiversity was by far the most-selected challenge, chosen by 67 per cent of the 15,000 respondents.
Young delegates believe creating more space for youth perspectives is essential to successfully conserving biodiversity, securing marginalised communities’ access to biodiversity, and their rights to benefit from the sustainable use of that biodiversity.
They maintain that an inclusive, rights-based approach is key to delivering sound public policy for generations to come as countries commit to conserving land and water resources and reversing biodiversity loss.
“The rights of nature and humans are an integral aspect of nature conservation, especially in India where we have communities living close to protected areas and regions. Therefore explicit references to human and nature rights along with right-based approaches to conservation are critical for the proper implementation of the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) at COP15,” says youth delegate Shruthi Kottillil, who is part of GYBN.
“The Indian youth make up almost 30 per cent of our national population. It’s our future that is being discussed at the COP15,” says Pakhi Das, a youth delegate at COP15 and National Coordinator of the Indian Biodiversity Youth Network.
“As well-informed, experienced stakeholders that represent a diversity of expertise and unique perspectives, it is very important our opinions are solicited and voices heard at all levels of governance,” told Das.
Das believes the youth not only have fresh ideas but also the capacity to innovate and simplify complex issues, which according to her, could go a long way in achieving the targets India is committing to.
Sudha Kottillil, Shruthi’s sister, is also a youth delegate attending the COP15 conference as part of GYBN. She says the Indian youth are demanding a transformative system-wide change at COP15.
“A focus on — and explicit mention of — transformative education in the global biodiversity framework would help all governments to take note of it and start implementing to create that much-needed change that everyone wants,” Kottillil said.
Das, Kottillil, and their peers want governments to facilitate funding for youth to participate in future events linked to biodiversity – and to ensure that the GBF, once adopted in Montreal, is implemented by Parties in a participatory and inclusive way “Implementation will be the next key step where concrete actions will need to be taken and it can’t be done without recognising the rights of nature and humans,” told Shruthi.
“We have created a youth action plan for the implementation of the GBF once adopted and presented a draft version to the Indian delegates,” Das added.
“Our ideas have been very well received and we are very optimistic that we will be able to work with the government soon,” she added.