🌱 Excited to share that I was selected for the 2024 cohort of the Global Youth Climate Training Programme! This program, jointly delivered by researchers at Oxford Net Zero and Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment - University of Oxford alongside a coalition of climate youth change makers at The Global Youth Coalition, focuses on the critical role of sub-state and non-state actor accountability in climate policy.
Out of over 10,000 applications, only 285 participants were chosen, yielding an acceptance rate of just 3%! This year, I am part of an incredible cohort of young leaders from 135 countries, including 227 from the Most Affected People and Areas, 141 from Vulnerable Twenty (V20) countries, and 69 from Indigenous Communities.
I am incredibly grateful to be among such a dedicated group tackling the climate crisis. As an islander (and someone from a region like mine), I understand firsthand the challenges of climate change. Rising temperatures, hurricanes, and sargassum influxes are just some of the issues we face, despite contributing minimally to the problem.
While I have actively supported diverse causes through the NGO sector (including environmental ones), I recognize the need to further strengthen my knowledge of climate change and develop my skills in communications and storytelling specific to this topic. This program has been invaluable in helping me understand the importance of these areas in driving climate action.
Now more than halfway through the program, I have learned so much about the complexities of climate action. This year's focus on non-state actors is particularly timely. Cities, regional governments, businesses, and civil society groups have significant potential to enhance national climate ambitions. However, it's crucial to assess the legitimacy of non-state actor commitments, as they can sometimes be misleading. Initiatives like the Net Zero Tracker aim to clarify the quality of these commitments, emphasizing the need for greater literacy in credible climate action to combat greenwashing.
This program is a valuable opportunity to deepen my understanding of climate change and explore solutions, especially in a way that can be applied to the specific challenges of Sint Maarten.
🎥 Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/eNNvJkCD
#YouthClimateAction #ClimateLeadership #GlobalYouth #ClimateChange #Sustainability #ClimateCrisis #ClimateAction #ClimateJustice #ClimateEmergency #StMaarten #SXM
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6moYes let us continue to fight.