Youth Climate Action Network launched

07 February 2016, 12:00AM

Last Friday was an exciting day for youth concerned about the environment and the potential impacts of climate change in Samoa. 

The Youth Climate Action Network of Samoa (Y.C.A.N) became an official body after receiving its registration certificate and being lauded by the United Nations Development Programme (U.N.D.P) resident coordinator, Lizbeth Cullity. 

The Y.C.A.N is made up of a diverse group of young passionate individuals. 

They include young people with a background in environment, law, life savers, tour guides, farmers, theology and a handful of jack of all trades. These youths met through the South-South Sub-Regional Youth Conference on Climate Change hosted by the Global Environment Facility – Small Grants Programme (G.E.F-S.G.P) and the U.N.D.P in August the previous year. As a result of the conference, these youths were inspired and started implementing climate actions within their communities. 

“I’d like to thank G.E.F-S.G.P and U.N.D.P for their interest and commitment in empowering and ensuring that youth have a buy in on climate change,” says Y.C.A.N president Samantha Kwan. 

“We hope youth will be the instruments of change.”

To mark the occasion, a tree planting activity took place with the coordination of the National Parks and Reserves Section of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. 

A hundred native seedlings were planted as part of efforts to restore and rehabilitate the Mt. Vaea Reserve in Vailima which is also impacted by climate change.  

In the coming months, Y.C.A.N will be implementing more climate actions starting within their own communities. They are encouraging all the youth of Samoa to be part of the climate solution and join or support Y.C.A.N. They are also calling for decision makers to consider and include youth perspectives into climate solutions.

The Y.C.A.N would like to thank the numerous organizations, communities and individuals with their support that contributed to the establishment of Y.C.A.N. 

To join or support YCAN, email them at [email protected]

07 February 2016, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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