- Title: Climate activists say youth impressive at summit, policymakers less so
- Date: 29th September 2021
- Summary: MILAN, ITALY (SEPTEMBER 29, 2021) (REUTERS) SWEDISH CLIMATE ACTIVIST GRETA THUNBERG WEARING GREEN FROG HAT ARRIVING FOR DAY TWO OF TALKS AT YOUTH4CLIMATE CONFERENCE VARIOUS OF YOUNG DELEGATES ARRIVING AT VENUE (SOUNDBITE) (English) DELEGATE FROM BOLIVIA, PAOLA FLORES, SAYING: "I think that it is crucial and right now young people are taking actions for sure, state members and actors need to take action for sure and there are many reasons, things that we want to see resolved more than commitments or promises for the future for sure. But the working groups right now, they are really interesting because many young people are exchanging their experiences, their realities and their ideas that they have to achieve a sustainable future. So it feels incredible to meet people, I'm sure that we are doing what we need to do, but stakeholders and all governments, companies need to do the same and have the responsibility for what is happening because we are taking action and we need them to take action for sure." (SOUNDBITE) (English) DELEGATE FROM CAMEROON, DESMOND ABINWI FONTOH, SAYING: "It was really amazing, first of all connecting with youths from around the world, this is a great initiative being able to bring youths across the world, Africa, America, Pacific, to come together and think about how we can save our planet. So it was really impressive, and us being able to connect together, bond with all our differences, diversity, it was really really lovely." JOURNALIST ASKING: "Are you hopeful to resolve the problems?" FONTOH SAYING: "Well we have high expectations today to see that it should be better. We cannot fully say that we were able to obtain all of our goals, all of our objectives. But we hope to move forward in negotiations and present better outcomes for the upcoming days." COVID-19 ANTIGEN TEST BOOTHS, WHICH ALL DELEGATES AND MEDIA MUST DO EACH MORNING MEDICAL STAFF BY TESTING AREA / DELEGATE WALKING IN TO BE TESTED VARIOUS OF MAIN CONFERENCE ROOM, DELEGATES SEATED ITALY'S MINISTER FOR ECOLOGICAL TRANSITION ROBERTO CINGOLANI SEATED AHEAD OF TALKS VARIOUS OF DELEGATES SEATED IN MAIN CONFERENCE ROOM SIGN READING #YOUTH4CLIMATE FLAGS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD HUNG UP IN VENUE
- Embargoed: 13th October 2021 09:53
- Keywords: COP26 Youth4Climate climate change climate conference pre-COP26 youth
- Location: MILAN, ITALY
- City: MILAN, ITALY
- Country: Italy
- Topics: Climate Change,Climate Policy and Regulation,Environment,Europe,General News
- Reuters ID: LVA001EWRVCJR
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Young activists of every ethnicity, gender and age joined Greta Thunberg in Milan Wednesday (September 29) with one thing in common, a vibrant energy to fight against climate change inaction.
So far, Thunberg and her fellow youth campaigners have struck a sceptical tone, saying much has been promised but little done to tackle global warming in almost three decades since the landmark Earth Summit. They blame governments, policy makers and people in power.
But one thing about the Milan meeting has been positive, the ability of the different youth groups from around the world to come together.
"It was really amazing, first of all connecting with youths from around the world, this is a great initiative being able to bring youths across the world, Africa, America, Pacific, to come together and think about how we can save our planet. So it was really impressive, and us being able to connect together, bond with all our differences, diversity, it was really really lovely," said delegate from Cameroon, Desmond Abinwi Fontoh.
Thousands of young climate activists have converged on Italy’s financial capital with some 400, from about 190 countries, due to engage with policymakers to hammer out proposals for possible solutions.
The Youth4Climate meeting will end on Wednesday before a pre-COP26 meeting begins where proposals will be vetted by climate and energy ministers gathering at the same venue for their pre-COP26 meeting on Thursday through to Saturday.
The aim is to set a framework for the COP26 meeting in Glasgow in November.
(Production: Gabriele Pileri, Emily Roe, Eleanor Biles) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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