'Our future, our voice': What India's youth want from COP15

How world leaders address climate change and biodiversity loss is closely tied to the future of the planet and of young people, yet their voices are not articulated properly in the decisions pertaining to issues that will likely affect them more than any other group.

As 196 countries chalk out a post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) during the COP15 conference here – a process that began at the UN Biodiversity Conference four years ago in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt -- there has been a sustained push for the inclusion of youth, women, and gender minorities in determining the targets to address biodiversity loss, and how they will be implemented.

In the Convention on Biological Diversity process, Parties have consulted with non-state actors such as the Women's Caucus, International Indigenous Forum on Biodiversity, and the Global Youth Biodiversity Network (GYBN), stated Basile van Havre, Co-Chair for the CBD's Post-2020 Open Ended Working Group here.

A UNESCO ''World in 2030'' Survey Report published last year highlighted concerns of the youth over climate change and biodiversity loss.

The report shows that climate change and loss of biodiversity was by far the most-selected challenge, chosen by 67 per cent of the 15,000 respondents.

Young delegates believe creating more space for youth perspectives is essential to successfully conserving biodiversity, securing marginalised communities' access to biodiversity, and their rights to benefit from the sustainable use of that biodiversity.

They maintain that an inclusive, rights-based approach is key to delivering sound public policy for generations to come as countries commit to conserving land and water resources and reversing biodiversity loss.

''The rights of nature and humans are an integral aspect of nature conservation, especially in India where we have communities living close to protected areas and regions. Therefore explicit references to human and nature rights along with right-based approaches to conservation are critical for the proper implementation of the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) at COP15," says youth delegate Shruthi Kottillil, who is part of GYBN.

''The Indian youth make up almost 30 per cent of our national population. It's our future that is being discussed at the COP15," says Pakhi Das, a youth delegate at COP15 and National Coordinator of the Indian Biodiversity Youth Network.

''As well-informed, experienced stakeholders that represent a diversity of expertise and unique perspectives, it is very important our opinions are solicited and voices heard at all levels of governance," Das told PTI.

Das believes the youth not only have fresh ideas but also the capacity to innovate and simplify complex issues, which according to her, could go a long way in achieving the targets India is committing to.

Sudha Kottillil, Shruthi's sister, is also a youth delegate attending the COP15 conference as part of GYBN. She says the Indian youth are demanding a transformative system-wide change at COP15.

''A focus on - and explicit mention of - transformative education in the global biodiversity framework would help all governments to take note of it and start implementing to create that much-needed change that everyone wants,'' Kottillil said.

Das, Kottillil, and their peers want governments to facilitate funding for youth to participate in future events linked to biodiversity – and to ensure that the GBF, once adopted in Montreal, is implemented by Parties in a participatory and inclusive way.

''Implementation will be the next key step where concrete actions will need to be taken and it can't be done without recognising the rights of nature and humans," Shruthi told PTI.

''We have created a youth action plan for the implementation of the GBF once adopted and presented a draft version to the Indian delegates," Das said.

''Our ideas have been very well received and we are very optimistic that we will be able to work with the government soon," she added.

In an effort to amplify young voices at COP15, Charlotte van't Klooster, Scientific Advisor of Reserva: The Youth Land Trust, a US-based non-profit, handed over 140 letters, written by young Indian children, to National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) Secretary, Justin Mohan, who's one of the lead negotiators from the country.

One of the letters by six-year-old Anaya from Chennai reads: ''Dear Grownups, Thank you for reading my thoughts. I learned that the air that we breathe, the water that we drink, and the safety of our soil are all dependent on Trees. Are they not our gift boxes from God?! Please do not unwrap them all. Please keep them for us. We like to breathe fresh air, drink clean water, and live safely…'' Another letter by 11-year-old Krishna reads: ''As we drill down trees some of us weep. Some say this is the ugly truth but really...we are the ugly truth.'' ''Children and young people have been sitting in their bedrooms and classrooms drawing and writing about their hopes for nature. Now we're sending their message to governments here in Canada," said Callie Broaddus, Founder and Director of Reserva.

Ragini Sarma, who is a part of a youth delegation, wants world leaders to stick to the promises that they are making in Montreal.

''As for world leaders, particularly India, I want them to address how they will incorporate indigenous peoples and local communities (IPLCs) in the 30X30 target, if the plan is to make 30 per cent of land protected, I would like them to assure that the indigenous rights of these lands are maintained and not displaced," Sarma said.

Sarma hopes the parties will incorporate not just academic scientific knowledge behind each target, but also recognise the value of traditional knowledge of IPLCs.

''I hope for it to be as mainstream as scientific reporting is. Traditional knowledge is just as effective, if not more, to halt this rate of the large rate of species loss and ecosystem loss," she added.

The forest ecology student also wants businesses to report their impacts on biodiversity, which is currently noted in Target 15 of the draft text of the Framework.

''Businesses now are required to report on their sustainable footprints, but it is only mandatory for the climate. I want this to exist not just for climate, but for ecosystems and nature as well," she added.

Of the many heated topics of discussion at the summit have been the regulation of gene drives, living modified organisms, and synthetic biology. Here too, young delegates want their voices heard.

As a young researcher attending COP15 representing the iGEM Foundation, a non-profit promoting synthetic biology, Shreya Kulkarni wants COP15 to open doors for more innovation and research in responsible Synthetic Biology and Biotechnology (SynBio), a set of concepts, approaches, and tools that enable the modification or creation of biological organisms.

''SynBio has the potential to bring in novel and creative solutions to urgent global problems like hunger, energy, and vector-borne diseases along with climate change, biodiversity loss, and conservation," Kulkarni said.

"I believe that responsible application of these new technologies can help restore our planet and conserve biodiversity," she added.

"Definitely, we have been working alongside youth and giving them a voice, meeting with them here. I can see parties calling on the youth like they call on scientists and indigenous people," notes Co-Chair van Havre.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)