Wild Center brings young voices to COP26

TUPPER LAKE | The Youth Climate Program founded at the Wild Center here is again lending strong local voices to the U.N. Climate Change Conference. COP26 (Conference of Parties 26) is being held in Glasgow, Scotland this year and 10 delegates from the Adirondack Park's natural history museum youth initiative are there. Stephanie Ratcliffe, executive director of The Wild Center is part of the leadership team, along with Karen Thomas, chairwoman of the museum's Board of Trustees; and Jen Kretser, The Wild Center's director of climate initiatives. The youth delegation and the universities they attend/ed are Andrew Fagerheim, of Homer, NY, a sophomore at Columbia University; Gina Fiorile of Saranac Lake, who holds a Master's Degree from George Mason University and is coordinator of the Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network, University of Colorado, in Boulder; Elodie Linck, of Saranac Lake, who is the Wild Center's climate communications fellow and a 2021 graduate of Skidmore College; Elise Pierson, of Lake Placid, a sophomore at St. Lawrence University; Silas Swanson, of Saranac Lake, who is a senior at Columbia University; Witter Swanson, of Saranac Lake, a 2021 graduate of Amherst College, who now works with Sustainable Energy Advantage of Boston, Massachusetts; and Emma Venarde, of New York City, who is an environmental science student at Brown University. The early round of TED talks and discussion began in Edinburgh, Scotland the week ahead of COP26 formal meetings, which start Oct. 31 and continue through Nov. 12. The schedule of meetings, events, and news from the talks are online: ukcop26.org INCLUDING YOUTH VOICES Bringing young people face-to-face, in person, with global decision-makers and world leaders is a critical component of addressing climate change, adaptation and mitigation measures, Wild Center leaders say. "Youth voices need to be part of the discussion on climate change action because youth are going to be needed for leading climate change action," Ratcliffe said as the team readied for the conference. "Our Youth Climate Program has already empowered thousands of students around the world to be forces for change in their communities. Participating in COP26 is an incredible opportunity for our delegates not just to be heard, but to gain critical understanding into the way power works—and how they use their own." Jen Kretser has led the Youth Climate program for nearly a decade at The Wild Center. She has been exploring Scotland's waterfront and byways the past week as part of the TED Countdown to the Summit. Kretser was at the Paris conference in 2015 and watched young people help frame the conversation and action agenda. "It's incredibly empowering to be in a place with thousands of other people, all pushing world leaders to do the right thing for people and the planet," she said in a news announcement. "We've led the way for communities across the globe to do what they can. But true societal changes take bigger action than anyone place can act on. Knowing that our youth delegates will have a chance to not only attend but witness these discussions firsthand, gives me incredible hope for what's to come." The Wild Center is one of just two museums worldwide to be presented with observer badges to COP26 talks. Accreditation gives Youth Climate Program delegates inside access to panels and discussions that are closed to the public. More than 100 presidents, prime ministers, and leadership delegates from around the world are scheduled to attend the conference. U.S. President Joe Biden will attend, along with 13 members of the U.S. Cabinet, including White House National Climate Advisor Gina McCarthy and John Kerry, U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate. Radcliffe said United Nations officials expect decisions from COP26 to drive major reductions in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. Wild Center delegates will contribute to a youth-led policy statement being developed during the conference, and post regular updates of their observations online, she said. "We want to use our presence at COP26 to drive greater awareness of the power of our Youth Climate Summit model. "But we also want to use our participation to highlight to all our visitors that they can take action, also. This work needs to be done on multiple levels. We're all responsible for doing what we can." Linck, 21, who graduated from Skidmore College this year, is attending the TEDx Countdown. She too said input from young people is imperative. "It is essential that youth voices remain central in important conversations surrounding climate, and I look forward to being a part of bringing climate to the international stage and amplifying solutions that will accelerate a transition to a more safe, sustainable, and equitable society." FOLLOW THE WILD CENTER CLIMATE YOUTH DISCUSSION The Wild Center has made outreach a big component of their trip to COP26 in Glasgow. Teachers, at-home learners, students, and anyone interested in ongoing climate change negotiations can follow via online media tools and social media. Dispatches from Scotland will provide real-time access to experiences and discussions as Climate Change conversations unfold. To follow The Wild Center's COP26 Delegation, read Dispatches: https://www.wildcenter.org/our-work/cop26/ Read about the goals set for COP26: wildcenter.org On Twitter: @WildCenter @COP26 Youth delegates will attend Climate Conference events, interview other delegates from around the globe, and offer perspectives on COP26 happenings.

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Wild Center brings young voices to COP26

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