GLOBAL YOUTH CLIMATE ACTION DECLARATION.
At the UN headquarters in New
York during the Climate Action Summit at the UN General Assembly, a
collective of youth from around the world, each representative of their member
states and civil society organizations, put forth a Global Youth Climate Action
Declaration which was tabled to the member states and different heads of states
so that they can hear loud and clear the demands of the world’s population of
young people.
The preamble for the GYCAD states
that, "Today, we the Youth are
united in our call for urgent action on the trans-national crisis
of climate change. Together we represent the global constituency of young
people, determined to preserve the integrity of our Earth for all
lifeforms, for the generations to follow, and for the sake of our own
survival. In order to protect our most fundamental right to an
inhabitable, healthy environment, it is imperative that we have
multi-dimensional cooperation. We must mobilize and transform our
hope in order to transcend borders and immerse ourselves in action. This
requires cooperation that may be the first of its kind. Harmony on a
personal, local, national, and international level.
Today, in response to the deadlock, ignorance, and inaction of past
generations in addressing the climate change crisis created by our
species, we, the YOUTH declare a global, social, and ecological state of
emergency".
We therefore need to unite
in action against the climate crisis. The Earth’s climate is nearing the point
of no return from which life on the planet cannot recover. The cost of inaction
is too immense. Threats to the climate menace every aspect of our world; and
the sustainable communities we must build for the future depend on our
collective will to meet and overcome these existential challenges.
Without an immediate paradigm
shift, we will continue to see profoundly destructive consequences on human
life across the planet. Rising sea levels and temperatures, water acidity and
pollution, and abnormally severe natural disasters are causing the rapid decrease
of Arctic sea ice extent, the decimation of biodiversity, and the gradual
disappearance of geographically vulnerable regions.
Climate change is aggravating
global crises, intensifying drought and the lack of access to clean water and,
subsequently, heightening global conflicts. By 2050, over 143 million people
will be displaced as a result. Rapid industrial development coupled with
inadequate regulation will hasten air pollution, deforestation, and acid rain;
consequently undermining the ability both of natural habitats and human
societies to support the thriving of their lifeforms, and thereby precipitating
negative health outcomes for all species alike.
Overwhelming empirical evidence
prove that the rapid intensification of the climate crisis was caused by human
activity. We now must undo the damages. The Montreal Protocol successfully
scaled back ozone depletion, but new climate crises require that we assert a
more comprehensive global agreement. The future is uncertain, and the
devastation to the planet will become irreversible without immediate global
action.
Together, we can change the
course of history by using our power for good, by amplifying the voice of
science, by abandoning “business-as-usual”, and by taking a stand for our
planet. Alongside biodiversity collapse, denial of human rights, dramatic
levels of pollution, rising inequalities, and resource shortages, Our
approach to climate change will be a determining factor of planetary
evolution for decades to come.
We need to partner to address the
rising complexities caused by climate crisis due to our inaction and greed
through adhering to the goals set forth by the Sustainable Development
agenda.
GREAT
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