COP15: Day 5

Courage, Confidence, and Character.

As I reflect on the past week, I think about the challenges that we face as a world, as nations, and as individuals. The two weeks of the COP15 meeting are important in addressing the issue of climate change for the future of our world. We rely on the moral leadership and courage of our decision-makers and work together to try to positively impact the future policies of our planet.

As a WAGGGS delegation, we have networked with many other organizations and other youth. Next week, we will further these connections and take leadership in the final drafts of policies that we present to delegates. We will focus on the importance of writing women, youth, and indigenous people in the text for the environmental policy. By working together with other organizations, our voice will be stronger in our final presentation to the delegates and heads of state. The youth in the text policy working group that I have been involved with this week finalized its language. Next week, our language will be presented to the YOUNGO (Youth NGOs) spokes council meeting. Hopefully, our policy proposal will be considered and included in the new environmental policy of the world.

Today I had the opportunity to present the GSUSA Forever Green program and discuss what Girl Scouts in the US are doing to reduce carbon emissions! I served as a panelist in a session after Lynne Cherry’s videos about children doing projects in the environment. Lynne is also the author of children’s books that educate kids about the environment.

I attended Secretary of Commerce, Gary Locke’s, side-event discussion on energy security, energy efficiency, and green jobs. He says, "The climate change challenge is relatively simple. We can make changes now, or we will have to make changes later." He warned that our children will question our inaction if we do not take action now. We need to rethink the way we produce and consume energy.

Today, my patrol was in charge of the stand. I have not seen any children at the conference, but while I was at the stand, I met two young girls from Korea who were with their parents. Their parents were with the press and carried large video cameras. The girls were very grateful and excited when I gave them the WAGGGS Climate Change Challenge booklet and badges.

After the panel in the climate rescue station, we took pictures with the ice scuptures! Thank you to Paul, our WAGGGS photographer, for all of the photos!


Yours Truly in Guiding and Scouting,
Emily