(Policy Discussions with Member of Legislative Assembly and other Government Stakeholders in Thrissur)
From September 15–17, 2023, the Kerala Institute of Local Administration in Thrissur hosted the Local Conference of Youth India, under the aegis of YOUNGO (Official Youth Constituency of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change), and supported by BBG (Bring Back Green Foundation), IYCN (Indian Youth Climate Network), and UNICEF India. The conference’s topic for this year was “From Passion to Progress” in preparation for National Youth Statement, India. Delegates from all around the nation and from a range of professions attended the event and took part in engaging sessions on climate change pedagogy, capacity building, and peer networking.
(Saadan Hussain, Junior Technical Officer facilitating the Policy Discussion)
Saadan Hussain, Junior Technical Officer at Wetlands International South Asia facilitated the session on UNFCCC’s Just Transition and Mitigation Work. He elaborated on the need for a just transition when it comes to mitigating climate change and asserted the fact that mitigation should not be a trade-off with the economy and livelihoods. He went on to elaborate on the current policy landscape in the Land, Ocean, Food and Water aspect of UNFCCC in India for the delegates and how wetlands restoration through the intersection of indigenous communities and local communities can help in Climate Change Mitigation. Post this, delegates were divided into groups, and policy recommendations were drafted. The delegates and facilitators visited the Kaipamanagalam Constituency to Understand coastal erosion, community resilience and rehabilitation: Interaction with Climate Affected Coastal Communities and Government Stakeholders.
(Drafting Policy Recommendations for National Youth Statement)
The Recommendations were framed as a National Youth Statement and will be submitted to the Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC, Government of India) and later to the Conference of Youth (COY) which will then be combined and submitted to the COP 28 Presidency this year to be held in Dubai.