World Scouting at COP 17
The 28th November 2011 marked the beginning of COP17/CMP7 in Durban South Africa. The World Organisation of the Scout Movement has a delegation present and will be fully participating inside of the conference until it ends on the 9th December. The WOSM exhibition stand is attractively displaying best practises from around the world; projects run at every level and from every corner of the movement are without exception being marvelled at.
The environment is our playground and we are sharing with the tens of thousands of international non-governmental and governmental delegates at the event how scouting has always cared for the planet, not because we had to, but rather, simply that we are in the business of creating a better world.
The youth are watching...
In 2005, the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol ( CMP) at its first meeting in Montreal, by its Decision 1/CMP.1, established the Ad Hoc Working Group on Further Commitments for Annex I Parties under the Kyoto Protocol (AWG-KP). The aim of the AWG-KP is to discuss future commitments for industrialized countries under the Kyoto Protocol. The AWG-KP reports directly to the CMP.
In addressing the delegates to the conference, as part of the Youth Constituent statement, Quintin Combrink from South Africa Scout Association (SASA) said, “Climate change is the moral issue facing both my and your generation….young people here doubt the political will of parties.” He called for a second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol, which will last for 5 years or less and for it to start by January 2013. He closed firmly by saying that, “the youth are watching, we are listening and we will be acting.”
The Chief National Commissioner Bangladesh Scouts, Md. Abul Kalam Azad, paid a visit to the WOSM booth at the COP17 and discussed a few issues pertaining the Climate talks going on here in Durban and how the Scouts are contributing to it.
Md. Abul Kalam Azad was pleased that the World Organization of the Scout Movement had sent a delegation to the Climate Change talks in Durban since they would raise the voice of other 30 million young scouts in the 161 countries they represent.
He stated that he would be pleased to attend and be part of the events and activities that the South Africa Scout Association (SASA) have organized notably the ongoing Scout trainings in environment education in Durban town and the daily joint beach activities between WOSM and Greenpeace youth.
Durban, South Africa - World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM) and the World Association of the Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) held a joint press conference at the Climate Change talks in Durban.
28 representatives from the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM) and the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) are at the United Nations climate change conference, COP 17, representing their 40million strong membership with the clear message that countries must reach a fair, ambitious and binding agreement in Durban.
As the Climate Change talks are going on at the The International Convention Centre Durban (ICC), around 70 Scouts get the great opportunity every day to do a program on Climate Change in the Kwazulu-Natal Scouts Headquarters. The Kids arrive in the morning and are educated about Climate Change, the COP17, Food-Gardening and Scouting in Germany. In a rotating system they don’t only sit and listen, but are involved in an active program.
The World Scout Team at the COP17 has been shuttling down the corridors and pavements of the ICC urging the leaders of the world to reconsider the future of the young people specifically the 30million large that are members of the Movement.
The team has been actively involved in the working groups of Youth Non-Governmental Organizations (YOUNGOs). On September 28, 2009 the international youth movement (YOUNGO) gained official constituency status.
