Youth Make Bold Intervention at UN Meeting

The Text:

Thank you for the opportunity to speak.

My name is Kirsty, and I am 24.

I am one of the hundreds of millions of young people around the world who are anxious about our future.

We have read the science and we understand.  We must release ourselves from ‘business as usual’ and take a momentus leap, grasping our sustainable future with both hands.
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To the developed countries – take this leap and put your targets on the table – minus 40% below 1990 levels by 2020; full decarbonization by 2050; and thestabilization at well below 350ppm. Anything less ambitious is not good enough.

The most reasonable proposals are from AOSIS and the LDCs – nations whose survival is not negotiable.

We commend the Maldives for their announcement that, at any cost, they will bring their nation to carbon neutrality within a decade. We need this is the sort of moral leadership from larger nations.

To the USA, Australia, Japan, Canada, the EU and New Zealand – frankly, your targets are, well, a little bit stupid. You’ve got only a few months to improve your positions, so start working harder.
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To developing countries: You too must make take on ambitious targets – we can’t solve climate change without you.
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Now, everybody, consider this next question carefully –
how old will you be in 2050?

I will be 66, hoping to retire after four decades of work overseeing the total decarbonisation of society.  As youth, we commit to working with you now and over the next 40 years to achieve this transformation.

Intergenerational Equity is crucial, but we need more than that – we’re also the people who will implement your agreement. We ask all nations to support youth to be formally recognised in this capacity, within the text of the Copenhagen agreement.
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To conclude: I challenge each of you to come meet the youth here in Bonn and back home, to look us in the eye and tell us that you are confident that we still have a livable planet in 2050.

We need your guarantee, because in 2050, we will still be here.