Community call COVID19 & environmental advocacy

We acknowledge the pain and fear that many people worldwide are currently experiencing due to the COVID-19 crisis. What we are seeing is truly unprecedented and is impacting the well-being, health, lives and livelihoods of billions of people everyday. It is crippling the ability of society to function- the most vulnerable being impacted the most. Governments are stepping up measures to combat the pandemic. Experts have made various economic projections and the common public continues to be worried. 

With this crisis unfolding the way it is, we would like to engage the youth constituency in conversations that are perhaps not easy, are sensitive, but at the same time needed. More than ever, we need to come together as a community, hear each other and approach things in a consultative manner. 

Analysts across countries and regions are already predicting a tremendous shift in policy nationally and internationally. Economic reconstructions are expected to gain major attention for at least 5 years after the end of COVID-19. The impact on the recently acquired attention for the environmental degradation and climate crisis is predicted to be devastating. 

At the same time, very little is known about the future of many key multilateral processes including the CBD COP, FCCC COP, and UNEA. 

The climate crisis needs unprecedented global action and cooperation, much like combating COVID-19. Therefore, it is important to discuss this collectively - What do we want to do? Where do we want to go? How do we communicate the protection of our earth in the given scenario and how do we prepare for unprecedented action? 

Therefore, we would like to invite you to an Open Talanoa Session on how we approach work in near-future on environmental and climate policy. (In Fiji, “talanoa” means to hold a conversation in an inclusive, receptive space; read more about this format here) 

This session is a joint work of different environmental constituencies within the framework of MGCY, specifically UNEP MGCY, GYBN YOUNGO, SDG7 and others. 

It will take place on Friday 27th March 2020, at 15.00 UTC on ZOOM (https://zoom.us/j/152363526). 

It will aim to provide a space for dialogue, honest feedback, creative ideas and also suggestions for next steps for the youth movement in light of the current crisis. You are very welcome to input on the concept note and structure HERE. Please add points you would like to be discussed. 

The virtual discussion is be based on the following objectives -  

• Have an open discussion with youth from different parts of world on how COVID-19 is impacting their lives and their social / environmental advocacy work 

• Discuss how governments are reacting and where climate crisis and environmental degradation stand as a priority 

• How can we still meaningfully advocate for protecting the planet while being fully sensitized and aware of different realities 

• What are innovative models (virtual consultations etc) that youth are planning to use, and how can we continue to be more inclusive moving forward

For more details, write to UNEP MGCY Focal Points at coordination@unep-mgcy.org