I’m 20, I’m not particularly fond of polar bears, but I’m fighting for an energy revolution, and I’m certainly not the only one.
If you are a sceptic of “green”, I’m not here to try to convince you that we are abusing our environment and its finite resources. That’s up to you to discover. Instead, I want to vent my excitement. Two centuries ago, Europe led the World towards an industrial revolution. It lifted billions out of poverty, and launched us towards a modern, interconnected planet. In the centuries that followed, our grandparents pulled this continent back from the precipice of tyranny, and our parents, divided by a great wall, fought together for a united Europe built on the fundamental values of liberty, justice and the rule of law.
The case for change
Every now and again, the world has to change dramatically. We've always managed it; we have adapted, planned, predicted, rallied together to make these necessary changes when they need to be made. It’s obvious we’ve reached another crossroad, and since it is our generation who will face the consequences of climate change - why not make it us who pushes towards a safer, cleaner and better future? If we want a foothold in the decision-making process determining our future, we have to show that we want it! We have the resources, and we are the most globally-connected in history, with a 24-7 media has brought the reality of places half a world away into our living rooms.
Climate Conference
The upcoming climate conference in Copenhagen this year presents a perfect chance to set the climate movement rolling. It will be a landmark opportunity, with Governmental representatives from 170 countries expected to attend the conference accompanied by other governmental representatives, NGO's, journalists and others totalling 8000 people.
With the UK’s youth making up a sizeable chunk of registered voters, governments must take our opinions into account during these important meetings. However, the youth climate movement isn’t just about changing policies and preserving our world. It’s also about passion, it’s about being young and alive, it’s about not being patronized, it’s about making sure that the powers of this world know that our generation’s and our children’s futures our not negotiable and cannot be compromised.
Power shift
This is where Power Shift comes in. Power Shift is a youth-led summit of training, strategy and action to unite truly diverse groups of young people to voice our generational concern on climate change and build a cohesive and effective youth climate movement. It is an event organised by the UK’s Youth Climate Coalition (UKYCC), and will take place this summer in Manchester, the home of the industrial revolution. For the first time, we will present our generational vision of a clean energy future. We will demonstrate that young people are ready to lead this country into a new era of 21st century energy freedom and of green jobs that not only help the planet but tackle unemployment, and that we are a political force to be reckoned with.
However, Power Shift isn’t just about uniting already “self-proclaimed greenies”. One of the main aims of the UKYCC is to provide opportunities for people who, until now, have never done something like this before - giving them the chance to be part of something amazing.
Power Shift is keen to bring in a new set of eyes, ears and ways of communicating to young people about climate change. We want to demolish stereotypes, because the energy crisis is just too important to be left totally in the hands of the people who in 2050 will probably no longer be alive. What we’re doing isn’t radical, it’s not alternative, it’s common sense - normal people stepping up to protect their families, friends, homes and the things that matter to them, building the kind of clean, secure, smarter, sexy world that we want to live in.
If you would like any more information about Power Shift, or you are interested in attending the event, please contact tom@ukycc.com or kate@ukycc.com.