ICYO- Youth Information

No. 2009/42

(E-Newsletter from network of youth organizations in India)

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ICYO - Platform of 358 Youth Organizations in India.       

ICYO - India’s largest network of urban and rural youth.

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Tunza Int. Youth Conference on Climate Change 2009 held in South Korea

The Tunza International Children and Youth Conference on Climate Change took place in Daejeon, Republic of Korea, 17-23 August 2009. The conference organized by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) in cooperation with the UNEP National Committee for the Republic of Korea had “Climate Change: Our Challenge” as its theme. Participants pledged to plow ahead with efforts to ensure that global warming remains an international priority, with just over three months remaining until negotiations on a possible new pact end in Copenhagen, Denmark.

This was the largest-ever youth climate change conference, bringing together around 800 young people from all over the world. Participants at the conference were selected from thousands of applicants based on their outstanding ‘green’ achievements in their respective countries, illustrating strides made by the next generation to address the serious threat of global warming. Projects included a drive to distribute hundreds of low-energy light bulbs in Nepal, a carpooling scheme in Samoa, a recycling drive in Sierra Leone and efforts to clean up rivers in Russia.

The Conference is part of the Seal the Deal! Campaign, which was launched by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in April 2009. According to the UN Secretary-General "This global Youth and Children gathering under the Seal the Deal! Campaign is the largest international gathering of young people this year advocating for climate change action. Their voices will and must be heard because they will inherit the outcomes of our actions." The Conference consisted of a Seal the Deal! Global Townhall Meeting, a Seal the Deal! Global Debate, a Children’s Conference and a Youth Conference.

During the week-long Youth Conference, young people agreed on regional action plans including actions such as outreach, youth mobilization and education for Copenhagen, social networking, campaigning and tree planting.

An important outcome of the Conference was the statement entitled ’Listen to Our Voices: The Future Needs Strong Vision and Leadership’ to world leaders. Finalized at a Global Town Hall Meeting on 20 August in Daejeon, in this statement young people (representing 3 billion of the world population) express concern that “governments are not doing enough to combat climate change”. Climate Change has “serious consequences not only for ecosystems, but also for human health, job security and social development”. The statement calls for “more actions and less talking”, listing action points for governments and citizens to find efficient ways to cope with, adapt to, and take action to stop climate change.

Finally, Youth Advisors were chosen for the Tunza Youth Advisory Council, representing the six regions and indigenous groups. The Council will advise UNEP on how to engage young people in its work and in international environmental negotiations

Youth Information is published by

Indian Committee of Youth Organizations (ICYO)

194-A, Arjun Nagar, Safdarjang Enclave

New Delhi 110029, India

Phone: 91 9811729093  / 91 11 26183978 Fax 91 11 26198423

Email: icyoindia@... / icyo@...

Web:  www.icyo.in

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Indian Committee of Youth Organizations (ICYO) is a registered non-profit, non-governmental network organization, committed in developing areas of mutual cooperation and understanding among different youth voluntary agencies, youth groups, clubs and individuals working in the field of youth welfare in India. 

ICYO functions as an umbrella organization of youth NGOs in India. It's family consists of
over 356 organizations spread in 122 districts of 22 states from different corners of India.

Our goal:
To improve and extend the youth work and services through Youth Organizations;
To enhance and demonstrate youth work in the society;
To promote effective youth programmmes;
To organize network of civil society organizations working towards the development of youth work;
To organize seminars, conferences, workshops, trainings;
To maintain international relation with organizations promoting young people in their programmes and activities

Affiliation: 

Consultative (Roster) Status with ECOSOC, United Nations;
Consultative Status with Commission on Sustainable Development;
Full Member of World Assembly of Youth (WAY); Asian Youth Council (AYC);
 CRIN, South Asia Youth Environment Network (SAYEN),

Affiliate group of ECPAT International, Thailand;
ATSECE-DELHI, Indian Partner of AIDS Care Watch Campaign;
Steering Committee member of World Bank's YDP Network;
Working relation with Indian Association of Parliamentarians (IAPPD);
International Medical Parliamentarians Organizations (IMPO);
Asian Forum of Parliamentarians on Population and Development (AFPPD);
World Youth Foundation, Malaysia.