The Global Youth Forum on Climate Change
2020

December 14th- 18th 2020
Virtual Event

The Global Youth Forum on Climate Change 2020

December 14th- 18th 2020
Virtual Event

Introduction

Youth play an important role in acting toward intergenerational justice, equity, and resilience, especially in the face of widespread climate change that threatens their future. However, youth face a number of challenges in engaging with climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies, including a lack of awareness and access to relevant institutions and processes, youth inclusion in policies and plans, and knowledge and capacities.

It is vital to engage youth in the formulation of policies and plans at local, national, and global level, including Nationally Determined Contributions and National Adaptation Plans. Article 6 of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and Article 12 of the Paris Agreement seek to reduce the impacts of climate change by enabling society including youth as a whole to be part of the solution through education and training for a climate resilient and low-emission future. As such, youth are represented in UNFCCC negotiations and other UN events related to climate change through YOUNGO, the official Youth Constituency of the UNFCCC.

Action for Climate Empowerment (ACE) is a term adopted by the UNFCCC to denote work under Article 6 of the UNFCCC and Article 12 of the Paris Agreement that sets out an overarching goal to empower society including youth to engage in climate action through education, training, public participation, public awareness, public access to information, and international cooperation. In addition to the opportunities for countries to integrate the six elements of ACE in the NDC revision process, countries should ensure that youth are included as a key stakeholder in the NAP process by following the guidance provided by the NAP Technical Guidelines regarding climate change education and training.

The engagement and empowerment of youth in climate action at a local, national, and global level as well as in the United Nations Climate Change process and at all decision-making levels to address climate-related vulnerabilities and become climate champions is necessary and should be supported and encouraged.

The Global Youth Forum on Climate Change

The Global Youth Forum on Climate Change (GYFCC) was first organized in 2016 by SLYCAN Trust in partnership with the Climate Change Secretariat of the Ministry of Environment of Sri Lanka under the Sri Lanka Next programme as well as other national and international partners.

The Global Youth Forum has fostered increasing youth participation and focuses on sharing knowledge on key climate change issues, providing a platform for youth to propose ideas on climate action and research, and supporting youth to develop and improve project proposals through capacity-building and networking.

In 2020, the Global Youth Forum on Climate Change will be held from December 16th to 18th, with a Sri Lankan local-language pre-event taking place from December 14th to 15th. The Forum will include partners and collaborators from national ministries, international and local think tanks, CSOs, NGOs, and research institutions.

The goal of the Global Youth Forum 2020 is to provide a platform for young climate activists, leaders, youth organizations, and stakeholders to speak on and discuss issues and the way forward for climate change action as well as ongoing national and international climate discussions.

It focuses on four main thematic areas:

Climate Change and Disaster RiskBiodiversityOceans and Coastal EcosystemsSustainable Food Systems

In addition to these main thematic areas, the Forum has five cross-cutting issues that will receive special attention across all areas, including just transition, participation and inclusion, education and capacity-building, means of implementation, and just recovery.

Key Focus Areas

  • Just transition in the energy sector
    - Key elements to ensure just transition in the energy sector
    - Gaps and challenges faced in integrating aspects and strategies of just transition in the energy sector
    - Institutional structures and role of actors in achieving just transition in the energy sector
    - Entry points and opportunities for integrating just transition into climate policy initiatives and actions
    - Success stories, best practices, and experience sharing on initiatives

  • Ensuring just transition in the food sector
    - Key elements of just transition and their relation to global and local food systems
    - Gaps and challenges faced in integrating aspects and strategies of just transition in the food sector
    - Institutional structures and role of actors in achieving just transition in the food sector
    - Entry points and opportunities for integrating just transition into climate policy initiatives and actions
    - Success stories, best practices, and experience sharing on initiatives

  • Gender, inclusion, social protection, and cross-cutting aspects related to just transition
    - Key cross-cutting aspects related to just transition
    - Interlinks for integration of just transition with climate action and into different climate policy and action processes
    - Impacts of COVID-19 and the role of recovery actions in contributing toward just transition
    - Success stories, best practices, and experience sharing on initiatives

Concept Note

National Forum

14th December, 2020, 9.00-9.30 am IST

Inaugural Session of the National Forum

Welcome Address

Ms. Vositha Wijenayake

Executive Director
SLYCAN Trust

Keynote Address

Dr. Sunimal Jayathunga

Director, Climate Change Secretariat of the Ministry of Environment of Sri Lanka

14th December 2020, 10.15 am-11.45 am

Panel Discussion on Biodiversity, Coastal & Marine Ecosystems (Sinhala)

Dr. P.B.Terney Pradeep Kumara

General Manager
Marine Environmental Protection Authority

Mr. Anura Sathurusinghe

Director
Ecosystem and Conservation Programme, SLYCAN Trust

Ms. Thimali Dharmakeerthi

Research & Programme Officer
SLYCAN Trust

Moderator

Mr. Damitha Samarakoon

Senior Programme Manager
SLYCAN Trust

14th December 2020, 1.00 pm- 1.50 pm

Panel Discussion on Sustainable Consumption & Production ( English )

Dr. Thusitha Sugathapala

Senior Consultant
Climate Change & Sustainability Development SLYCAN Trust

Mr. Samantha Kumarasena

Chief Executive Officer
National Cleaner Production Center

Ms. Nadeesha Paulis

Writer, Traveller, Storyteller

Moderator

Ms. Suramya Hettiarachchi

Advocacy Manager
SLYCAN Trust

14th December 2020, 2.00 - 3:00 pm

Panel Discussion on Ocean and Coastal Ecosystem ( Tamil )

Dr. T Mathiventhan

Environmentalist & Senior Lecturer,Department of Botany

Eastern University

Mr. Thiru Shripathy

Assistant Manager North and East
Marine Environmental Protection Authority (MEPA)

Ms. Ahalya Arulnayagam

Research Assistant
SLYCAN Trust

Moderator

Ms. Thadshajiny Kandasamy

Assistant Manager - Research and Programmes
SLYCAN Trust

14th December 2020, 4.30-5.30 pm

Panel Discussion on Climate Change and Disaster Risk ( Tamil )

Dr. S. Amalanathan

Additional Secretary
State Ministry of Backward Rural Areas Development and Promotion of Domestic Animal Husbandry & Minor Economic Cultivation

Prof. Shanthi De Silva

Senior Professor
Faculty of Engineering Technology, Open University Sri Lanka

Moderator

Ms. Thadshajiny Kandasamy

Assistant Manager - Research and Programmes
SLYCAN Trust

15th December 2020, 09:30-11.00 am

Recap of Day 1

Mr. Ashan Karunananda

Research and Programme Officer
SLYCAN Trust

Panel Discussion on Climate Resilience in Food Systems ( English )

Mr. Nipun Dias

Research & Programme Officer
SLYCAN Trust

Dr. Sam Daniel

Director - Farm Animal and Animal Welfare
SLYCAN Trust

Prof. Pradeepa Silva

Faculty of Agriculture
University of Peradeniya

Moderator

Ms. Suramya Hettiarachchi

Advocacy Manager
SLYCAN Trust

15th December 2020,11.15 -12.15 pm

Panel Discussion on Resilient and regenerative food systems ( Tamil )

Dr. Prabu Nadaraja

Food Activist
Organic Movement of North and East

Mr. Vimaladhas Vinasithamby

Climate Smart Agriculture
Co-ordinator -
Climate Resilient Integrated Water Management Project

Janathakshan

Moderator

Ms. Thadshajiny Kandasamy

Assistant Manager - Research and Programmes
SLYCAN Trust

15th December 2020, 2.00-3:30 pm

Panel Discussion on Climate Resilience in Food Systems ( Sinhala )

Ms. Thilini Gunathilake

Research Assistant
SLYCAN Trust

Mr. O.P Kithsiri

Deputy Director
Integrated Water Management Project

Prof. Sanjeewanie Ginigadara

Faculty of Agriculture
Rajarata University

Achala Samaradivakara

Managing Director/ Co- Founder
Lanka Good Market (Guarantee Limited)

Moderator

Mr. Damitha Samarakoon


Senior Programme Manager
SLYCAN Trust

Closing Session of the National Forum

Ms. Senashia Ekanayake

Programme Manager
SLYCAN Trust

Global Forum

16th December 2020, 10.00am-10.15am CET/2.30-2.45 pm IST

Welcome Speech

Ms. Vositha Wijenayake

Executive Director
SLYCAN Trust

16th December 2020, 10.30am - 12.30pm CET/ 3.00pm - 5.00pm IST

Thematic Session : Resilience, Foresight, and Transformation

Keynote Speech

Dr. Youssef Nassef

Director - Adaptation Division
UNFCCC Secretariat

Understanding Foresight & Transformation

(a) Training Session (30 minutes)

Harald Neidhardt

Curator & CEO
Futur/io Institute

(b) Training Session II (30 minutes)

Interactive Session

Introduction to Youth Resilience Frontiers, and Discussion

Ms. Habiba Al-Khatib

Convener
Youth Resilience Frontiers

16th December 2020, 1.30pm-2.15pm CET/6.00pm-6.45pm IST

Youth in Climate Action

Keynote Speech

Ms. Fleur Newman

Action Empowerment Unit LeadGender Focal Point and Focal Point to Women
UNFCCC Secretariat

Q&A ( 15 mins )

16th December 2020, 2.15pm – 3.15pm/6.45pm CET– 7.45pm IST

Youth for Climate Action

Introduction to participants and their projects

16th December 2020, 3.30pm - 5.30pm CET /8.00pm-10.00pm IST

Thematic Session : Initiating Climate Action

Mr. Chibeze Ezkiel

Strategic Youth Network for Development

Dr. Bremley Lyngdoh

World View Impact

Ms. Aisha Niyaz

Advocate for Climate Resilience

Mr. Raphael Podselver

ProgVeg International

Thematic breakout groups  (30 mins)

Report Back

Closing of Session

17th December, 2020, 10.00am - 10.10am CET / 2.30pm-2.40pm IST

Recap from Day 1

17th December, 2020, 10.10am - 11.10am CET / 2.30pm-3.40pm IST

Thematic Session : Ecosystem Conservation & Addressing Climate Change: Biodiversity, Oceans & Coastal Ecosystems

Ms. Vositha Wijenayake

Executive Director
SLYCAN Trust

Mr. Lukas Edbauer

Alumni
United Nations University, Institute for Environment
and Human Security & University of Bonn

Dr. Terney Pradeep Kumara

General Manager
Marine Environmental Protection Authority

Q & A - Interactive session with the participants.

17th December, 2020, 11.30am-1.45pm CET/4.00pm-6.00pm IST

Thematic Session : Incorporating Climate and Disaster Risk Management into Actions

Ms. Donna Lagdameo

IFRC Climate Centre

Dr. Linda Anne Stevenson

Head of Knowledge Management & Scientific Affairs
Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research (APN)

Ms. Kervelle Baird

Loss & Damage Youth Network

Mr. Dennis Mombauer

Director – Research and Education
SLYCAN Trust

Breakout groups

Based on day 01 groups and incorporating aspects related to risk into the project (30 mins)

17th December, 2020, 2.00pm-4.00pm CET / 6.30pm-8.30 pm IST

Thematic Session : Youth in National & Global Policy Processes, and Sustainable Development

Dr. Thusitha Sugathapala

Senior Consultant
SLYCAN Trust

Mr. Christoph Schwarte

Director
LRI

Ms. Sofie de Wit

Wageningen University

Ms. Aneeqah Tariq

Wageningen University

Breakout groups

Based on day 01 groups and incorporating aspects related to risk into the project (30 mins)

17th December, 2020, 4.30pm - 5.30pm CET / 9.00pm-10pm IST

Keynote Speeches : Climate Resilience, and Transformative Building Forth Post COVID-19

Dr. Moustapha Kamal Gueye

Coordinator – Green Jobs Programme
ILO

Prof. Saleem-ul Huq

Director
ICCCAD

18th December, 2020, 10.00am - 10.10am CET / 2.30pm- 2.40pm IST

Recap of Day 2

18th December, 2020, 10.10 am- 11.10am CET / 2.40pm-3.40pm IST

Report back from Group Work

18th December, 2020, 11.15am-1.15pm CET / 3.45pm-5.45 pm IST


Thematic Session : Scaling up Climate Action - Inclusive and Participatory Actions

Mr. Sven Harmeling

Global Policy Lead Climate Change and Resilience
CARE International

Mr. Damitha Samarakoon

Senior Programme Manager
SLYCAN Trust

Ms. Syeda Jamshaid

Climate Change Specialist
Ministry of Climate Change Pakistan

Ms. Eline Reintjes

Junior Cause Strategist
The B Team

Breakout groups

Based on day 01 groups and incorporating aspects related to the thematic focus of the session(60 mins)

18th December, 2020, 2.00pm - 3.30pm CET/6.30pm-8.00pm IST

Thematic Session : Communication, Outreach and Climate Education: Spreading Your Message & Making Change

Dr. Daniel Beckmann

CEO
Foodshed.io

Mr. Duncan Williamson

Nourishing Food Systems

Ms. Senashia Ekanayake

Programme & Communications Manager
SLYCAN Trust

Breakout groups

Based on day 01 groups and incorporating aspects related to the thematic focus of the session(60 mins)

18th December, 2020, 4.00-6.00pm CET/8.30pm-10.30pm IST

Closing Session

Presentations of project pitches

Q&A

Closing Remark

Registrations for the summit will be open from 14th December, 2020 via SLYCAN Trust’s website: www.slycantrust.org
For additional information related to speaking slots and partnerships, kindly contact SLYCAN Trust’s Executive Director Vositha Wijenayake directly by email: vositha@slycantrust.org

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