UNICEF, in partnership with Kerala Legislative Assembly, will organise the Children and Youth Assembly for Climate Change at the Kerala Legislative Assembly campus on June 6.
The Children and Youth Assembly for Climate Change will be held with active involvement of the Department of General and Higher Education, Department of Environment and Climate Change, Revenue (Disaster Management), Institute of Climate Change Studies, Health, Local Self Government, Women and Child Development.
“The Climate Assembly aims to create a platform for children and youth to dialogue on climate change issues in Kerala and the role each stakeholder can play,” Speaker M. B. Rajesh said. “It is important to create a platform to discuss the issues and climate actions across all levels. The platform will catalyze deep learning, discussion, and review. The district assemblies that will follow the main event will help share the learnings and information to more children and youth across the state,” he added. The Speaker also released the official logo and mascot of the event.
The Great Indian Hornbill, official bird of Kerala has been chosen as the mascot of the event, which has ‘Only One Earth’ as its motto, marking the International World Environment Day.
“Kerala has been making efforts in containing the global climate change impact through community involvement. UNICEF is pleased to support the upcoming Children and Youth Assembly for Climate Change to strengthen Kerala State’s initiatives on climate action and risk reduction measures. The Assembly is designed to generate meaningful dialogue between policy makers, academia, communities, industries, and young people as key stakeholders and to recommend the way forward,” said Mr. K. L. Rao, Chief of Social Policy, UNICEF Office for Kerala and Tamil Nadu. “All key stakeholders need to join hands to advance urgent climate actions to protect our right to a healthy and sustainable environment. UNICEF stands ready to support the Government of Kerala leading climate actions,” Rao added.
The Climate Assembly aims to create a benchmark for youth led action and awareness on environmental issues. The day-long assembly brings together children and youth from the state who have initiated or championed the cause of climate change. Topics that will be discussed include science of climate change, socio-economic implications of climate change and possible actions at all levels.
Open house sessions during the conference, will focus on impact of climate change in Kerala, climate change-induced extreme events in the state, climate projections based on IPCC reports and actionable areas to mitigate and adapt.
The Assembly will include ‘Knowledge Kiosks’ where environmental role models and latest developments in climate adaptation will be displayed.
To ensure district level participation to the Climate assembly, children and youth can participate through quiz and mobile phone photography competitions. Participants to the conference will be selected from winners of the quiz competition for children in the 14-18 age category and from the mobile phone photography competition for 19- 24 years category.
Those in the above age groups interested in being a part of the event can register online from May 20th through http://keralaclimateassembly2022.org/.
The details of the online quizzes and the mobile phone photography competition for interested participants will be available on the website.
The Climate Assembly will also be streamed online for the general public and can be accessed through links on the website.
