WHO ARE WE
This paper is a synthesis of the work done by over 10,000 youth, from 33
different countries, over the course of four months, with the goal to inspire
leaders of the world to take action on the climate emergency we face. This
project has been designed and delivered by TakingITGlobal and the
Centre for Global Education, in partnership with Ocean Wise and under
moral patronage of UNESCO, with input from such branches as the
Intergovernmental Hydrology Programme, Ecohydrology, the Biosphere
Reserves, the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, and the
UNESCO Associated Schools Network (ASPnet). Throughout the
collaborative learning journey, youth involved have communicated with
one another on a dedicated virtual classroom and through video
conferences, to foster an understanding of climate change, colonization,
youth mobilization, and the various stakeholders in the climate change
movement. We have addressed these issues by creating blog posts and
submitting original art pieces based on the theme of the climate crisis and
specific impacts on water. The theme of water was suggested by UNESCO
on the occasion of the approaching UN Decade of Oceans, but it naturally
shifted over to solutions and actions that impact us specifically, as we
wrote this white paper. In addition, we surveyed close to 2500 people
under 19 to get the opinions and perspectives of as many youth as
possible from all around the world. We, a group of global youth, are very
passionate about speaking up about the climate crisis. We will keep
speaking until words turn into actions.
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