COP 20-Somethings

Voices of Youth from the 2014 UN Climate Change Negotiations in Lima, Peru. Sponsored by the Climate and Development Lab at Brown University. Photographs by G. Maris Jones Radio Story by Marguerite Suozzo-Golé

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About the Project

In an effort to humanize the UN climate change talks and make them more accessible to those unfamiliar with the negotiations, researchers at Brown University's Climate and Development Lab, G. Maris Jones and Marguerite Suozzo-Golé created "COP 20-Somethings." Curious about the role of youth at the conference, Jones and Suozzo-Golé conducted a number of interviews with young people from across the globe, resulting in a radio story and photographic archive representing the faces and voices of those who will have to live with the long term effects of climate change.

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Thousands of people from 196 countries were gathered in Lima, Peru these past two weeks for the 20th annual climate change negotiations. Among them were youth delegates fighting for their voices, and those of future generations, to be heard.

--Marguerite Suozzo-Golé

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December 12, 2014: On the last day of COP20 attendees signed the massive 'We are the Future' wall with their hopes for meaningful action against climate change.

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Name: Oscar

Age: 23

Home Country: Peru

Affiliation: YMCA World Alliance 

"I think that [youth] have a really important role because [...] we have the passion, the energy, and we are never tired so we are still there lobbying or going for some negotiators talking about some issues saying what's right and what's not right for us and what we think. Maybe some of [the negotiators] don't take us really seriously, but then when we are there we can demonstrate that we are really useful and we can [do] a lot of things."

Photo by G. Maris Jones

To see more stories from youth at the UN climate change talks in Lima follow COP 20-Somethings. 

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Name: Bubacar

Age: 28

Home Country: Gambia

Affiliation: Principal Climate Change Officer at the Ministry of the Environment of the Gambia 

"It's been like learning a new language, sort of, because telling someone how to swim and actually throwing them in the water-- it's quite different. So, I've been thrown into the water this time. [...] At first, [the COP] was quite depressing. I mean, my first experience of negotiating I remember I found it really hard to eat my lunch after that, but I realized that if I was going to be dressed by one session of negotiations then I might as well not turned up. But, it's been more of a learning curve, a very steep one. because you need to be on top of things. I mean, the very best negotiators, they always focus on their area of specialization or area of interest. You can't know everything, you have to just focus on a few things. And it's been good learning, interacting with people who know more than me, which is nice then you always know your deficiencies so you can know what you need to go and learn. and I also now realize why we haven't solved the problem of climate change since people, every nation has it's own interests others are here just to waste time others are here to find a solution and others are in the middle.

What do you think youth bring to the negotiations that other groups do not?

I think youth bring energy and honesty cause youth haven't been in the system for that long and so they're not yet corrupted. Cause some people try to say they are going to change the system by joining it, but they end up being changed by the system cause it's stronger than they are. I hope I'm not one of them. But, I mean youth bring a lot of energy cause there's this Fossil of the Day thing, [...] it doesn't have that much of a point, but at least it pinches. So, I think youth is important. We're going to be the leaders of tomorrow, God willing, if we get to know the nitty-gritty of the COP and what it means. Like, for example, I say we are going to be the parents of tomorrow and I would be very ashamed to tell my children that I was there when we could have done something and we didn't do anything."

Photo by G. Maris Jones

To see more stories from youth at the UN climate change talks in Lima follow COP 20-Somethings. 

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Name: Emeila

Age: 18

Home Country: USA

Affiliation: SustainUS and Climate Selfie Project.

"I’ve been very excited — I’ve always been really passionate about climate change, so I see this as an exciting step forward, getting to be part of international negotiations.

I think like every age group, it’s [youth] just another unique perspective and voice at the conference, so I think every age group — it’s important to have a wide variety of age groups present because they all provide a unique perspective. And I think the youth perspective is especially important at this climate conference because it’s our generation  that will bear the majority of the burden and the impact and has the most to lose from whatever — or gain from whatever decision they make in the end. 

I think it’s important that we are here to share our stories and really push for more ambitious action because it’s — I think it’s important to have our voice as the ones who are going to be largely impacted."

Photo by G. Maris Jones

To see more stories from youth at the UN climate change talks in Lima follow COP 20-Somethings. 

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Name: Marysol

Age: 20

Home Country: Peru

Affiliation: World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts

"We teach the girls to care about our planet, so they can teach to other girls who are not girl scouts and to everybody how can take responsibility to our planet and take care. It’s not only the Girl Guides’ responsibility because people say, 'Oh, the Girl Guides, they are example girls,' and it’s not that, because everybody needs to be hearing that everybody needs to take care about this problem, because it’s in the world." 

Photo by G. Maris Jones

To see more stories from youth at the UN climate change talks in Lima follow COP 20-Somethings. 

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December 12, 2014: At the final Fossil of the Day it seemed like the non-award was being given out left and right. On the final day of negotiations Canada came in third; the Ukraine, Russia, and Belarus all tied for second; the Umbrella Group and Like Minded Group of Developing Countries came in first place. After winning it's 4th Fossil of the Day award the day before, Australia totaled in at 4 out of 10 Fossils at COP 20 earning the country the Fossil of the Year award and a title of Colossal Fossil. 

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Name: Hindou

Age: 30

Home Country: Chad

Affiliation: The Indigenous People's Caucus 

"That's why I'm here into the negotiations to make the link with the ground community who are really affected, who are living this impact of the climate change with this negotiation just about the text, bracketing everything, so I'm making the link and vice versa. [...] For us we cannot separate the environment from the human right.

What do you thing youth bring to the negotiations that other groups do not?

If I'm asking for you [or] then if you are asking for yourself--it's two different things. So, youth bring this voice because when we negotiate we say we need the next generation, you have to think about our children. So the youth come and ask [the negotiators]. It's our future, so we are asking them, we are reminding them that it's our future then it's our generation or the next generation future. For you, maybe you're done from here to thirty years or to forty years, it's not all the people who are at the negotiations here who are going to lead that. It's us that's going to lead that. Then it's going to be our kids. So, that's the voice to give them the concrete view, but we need much space for the youth to tell them more and to remind them every single day, every single minute in all the negotiations. Telling them we are there, we are watching you. It is our future, you have to think about us. So, that's the difference youth are giving. But, youth are giving the fresh ideas also-- the solutions. Because If you need the solutions, everything is changing. So you need the change and the change is [brought] by youth. Otherwise, we cannot see the innovations, all the innovations is [brought] by youth when the hope is there."

Photo by G. Maris Jones

To see more stories from youth at the UN climate change talks in Lima follow COP 20-Somethings. 

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Name: Tan-Lin

Age: 26

Home Country: Taiwan

Affiliation: Taiwan Youth Climate Coalition 

"I think how youth are different from adults are their energy and their creativity. They got nothing to lose except our future. [...] We're maybe [...] more [...] aggressive or create stronger pressure for the negotiators."

Photo by G. Maris Jones

To see more stories from youth at the UN climate change talks in Lima follow COP 20-Somethings. 

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Name: Melinda

Age: 28

Home Country: Zimbabwe

Affiliation: Zimbabwean Delegation

"Youth--I think we bring the energy and new ideas. Just a new mindset that's really needed for really effective climate change [action]. We bring that extra energy that's not there."

Photo by G. Maris Jones

To see more stories from youth at the UN climate change talks in Lima follow COP 20-Somethings. 

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Name: Dewi

Age: 28

Home Coumtry: Indonesia

Affiliation: Indonesian Delegation 

"I think youth have a great power in decision making in COP. I think that people need to hear the voice of the youth because the impact of climate change will impact the youth and the young generation more than the old one."

Photo by G. Maris Jones

To see more stories from youth at the UN climate change talks in Lima follow COP 20-Somethings. 

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December 12, 2014: Young attendees of the COP get to meet with Barbara Pyle the creator and producer of the animated series Captain Planet and the Planeteers. Pyle gave each person present a Planteer element ring and together they shouted: "The Power is yours!" Here’s a summery of the show’s plot:

Gaia, the spirit of the planet, is awakened from a long sleep by Hoggish Greedly, who happens to be drilling above her resting chamber. Realizing that the damage is extensive, Gaia sends five magic rings, four with the power to control an element of nature and one controlling the element of Heart, to five chosen youths across the globe: Kwame from Africa, Wheeler from North America, Linka from the Soviet Union (changed to Eastern Europe after the Soviet Union’s dissolution), Gi from Asia, and Ma-Ti from South America.

These five are dubbed the Planeteers and are tasked with defending the planet from the greatest of disasters and making efforts to educate mankind to keep others from happening. Gaia uses her “Planet Vision” to discover where the most devastating destruction is occurring (in most episodes one or more of the Eco-Villains is behind it) and sends the Planeteers to help solve the problem. The Planeteers use transportation (usually a flying machine called a Geo-Cruiser) based on solar power to avoid causing pollution themselves.

In situations that the Planeteers cannot resolve alone, they can combine their powers to summon Captain Planet, a super hero, who possesses all of their powers magnified, symbolizing the premise that the combined efforts of a team are stronger than its individual parts. Captain Planet only appears in his Captain Planet garb. These are not clothes but elements of the planet that are integral to his composition. He is able to rearrange his molecular structure to transform himself into the various powers and elements of nature. Captain Planet’s outfit does not represent a specific culture. He has a grass-green proto-mullet, crystal blue skin, earthy brown eyes, a fire-red chest, gloves, trunks, and boots, and a sun-yellow globe insignia.

The Planeteers cannot use their rings while Captain Planet has been summoned. Despite his vulnerability to pollution, Captain Planet is a formidable and valiant hero. Once his work is done, Captain Planet returns to the planet, restoring the Planeteers’ powers. When he does this, Captain Planet reminds viewers of the message of the series with his catchphrase, “The Power Is Yours!” which is said to mean that all have the power to end the destruction of the planet if we work together as one world rather than fighting each other as separate nations.

Photos by G. Maris Jones

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December 12, 2014: A group of young people do a quick action symbolizing the effect that one country pulling in the opposite direction of the rest of the world. Another young man took the opportunity to remind the conference goers of the kidnapped Nigerian school girls who still have not been returned home.

Photo by G. Maris Jones

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Name: Mariana

Age: 22

Home Country: Brazil

Affiliation: Verde Luz and Engajamundo

"The young people are more interested in change that the others, I think. Cause we get together in the COY [Conference of Youth] to discuss this and we really do do it, and here the the other ones waste a lot of time talking about the process. And we came here with lobby points and really issues to develop in here and talk and discuss and get a solution and I think that they are not with that intention sometimes, but we are." 

Photo by G. Maris Jones

To see more stories from youth at the UN climate change talks in Lima follow COP 20-Somethings. 

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Name: Debora

Age: 23

Home Country: Brazil

Affiliation: Engajamundo

"I feel […] a little frustrated at times [with the inflexibility seen in at negotiations], but on the same time we’ve been articulating so much with young people and everywhere you look around you see a lot of engaged young people and that’s really a great thing to achieve.

What do you think young people bring to the negotiations that other groups do not?

We have a restlessness inside that makes us claim for change now. With this negotiations you see that it’s all very longterm […] But no, we don’t want then then we want it now. We are here now, we are young now and we want these changes to happen now, because 2020 might be too late. You won’t be here in 2030, 2050, 2100— we will, and we will carry on with the consequences. So, yeah I think that’s why we have this strength to ask for changes.” 

Photo by G. Maris Jones

To see more stories from youth at the UN climate change talks in Lima follow COP 20-Somethings. 

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Name: Bia

Age: 21

Home Country: Brazil

Affiliation: Engajamundo and Verde Luz

"When I started working with environmental issues, I understood that it’s really connected to social issues as well. So, I just fell in love with the idea of revolutionating the world through a more sustainable approach. And I first started working with social-environmental subjects because I live in a city that has great inequality so, I thought that sustainability could be away to fix those problems that are social problems, but also environmental problems. So, I really like to connect the work I do on the ground with Verde Luz in my home town to the work Engajamundo does at the international level because I think that I can bring the reality and what’s going on on the ground to the conferences and the conferences help me understand better the process of climate change on the ground so it’s all connected. 

What do youth bring to the negotiations that other groups do not?

I think that youth, honestly is the only group at these negotiations that can still speak the truth, […] say what nobody wants to hear and  nobody has the guts to say. So, we are like this crazy group of people who are constantly doing our protests and our actions trying to make the negotiators understand that you cannot negotiate lives. That climate change is about people on the ground and we are trying to bring this reality or trying to be the voice of those people who are not being heard right now. So, I think that youth brings […] a sense of reality that nobody else is bringing. […] We can say anything we want because we are young and we do not have, […] our jobs or our organizations […] restraining our actions we just do what we feel like and I think thats sincere and it’s the most sincere movement in the whole conference.”

Photo by G. Maris Jones

To see more stories from youth at the UN climate change talks in Lima follow COP 20-Somethings.