Climate Generation is in Bonn, Germany for the SB58!
A part of our policy work is attending the annual United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change’s (UNFCCC) Conference of the Parties (COP). COP is a space where about 197 countries, or Parties, come to discuss global climate change solutions.
At COP, countries commit to initiatives, like the Paris Agreement or the Kyoto Protocol, to address the warming of our planet. These conferences ask countries to enact climate-friendly policies and give a timeline to the commitments agreed upon.
If this seems like too much to talk about in only two weeks, that’s because it is! The Subsidiary Bodies (SB) conference works to prepare countries for COP with technical and implementation support. At SBs, countries also participate in open dialogues that follow the Action for Climate Empowerment’s (ACE) elements to encourage global community engagement toward climate justice.
While countries send official negotiating individuals to SBs and COPs, organizations and civil society show up en masse to follow the progress and hold leaders accountable. While at SB, I am excited to follow the work of the advocacy groups, or constituencies, that are recognized by the UN. These groups are dedicated to a specific issue and how it shows up in the climate change solutions negotiated during SB and COP.
There are groups like Climate Action Network, which Climate Generation is a member of, that meet to discuss advocacy strategies. There are groups for women and gender rights, Indigenous rights, and one for youth participation. The importance of these groups is crucial for the outcomes of these conferences, and this is one of the many reasons I am excited to attend SB!
Bringing the voices from frontline communities into these international spaces is a goal of mine.
A lot of great environmental justice work passed in Minnesota, and it will be exciting to share about this with other activists from around the world. Outside of the negotiations and workshops, Climate Generation will be presenting during a poster session to highlight our work around Minnesota’s Climate Justice Education Bill.
As someone very new to international policy work, I struggled to understand the importance of these conferences, especially since some negotiations are done behind closed doors to civil society attendees. As I learn more about SB and COP, I see there being room for community-based solutions in these collective agreements. I’m no expert in any of this, so I am looking forward to observing, learning, and building solidarity with activists in other countries!
B. serves as Policy Manager for Climate Generation. They are a Minneapolis Southsider and first generation graduate of the University of Minnesota. B. has several years experience in community organizing and policy work and is excited to bring their experiences in voting rights and housing advocacy to Climate Generation’s climate justice work. They believe in investing in our young leaders to build a better future and sustain movement work and have centered the voices of young people in previous campaigns. B. participated in the Wilder Foundation’s Community Equity Program, a nine-month political leadership cohort-based learning journey for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color community leaders and change makers.
Photo: UN Women/Ryan Brown