Act now on climate Change!

Fifteen WAGGGS delegates will attend the 16th Conference of Parties of the UN Framework of Climate Change Convention taking place in Cancun, Mexico, from 29 November to 10 December.

The WAGGGS delegation will ensure the youth voice influences decision-makers on climate change issues affecting girls and young women. Read the delegates profiles on our special COP 16 section.

WAGGGS delegates will be involved in all youth activities organized by YOUNGO, such as the 6^th Conference of Youth (COY6), a training and networking opportunity where they will run workshops. The delegates will also contribute to a side event about Article 6 of the Convention, which addresses the issue of climate change related education, training and public awareness, on how education and non formal education can impact climate change.

The WAGGGS stand at the Youth Zone will promote the Climate Change badge, the new 2011 centenary activity pack with the theme ‘Grow’ and the Global Action Theme and showcase the excellent work that Girl Guides and Girl Scouts are already doing on climate change around the world.

About the UNFCCC

Over a decade ago, most countries joined an international treaty - the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) -to begin to consider what can be done to reduce global warming and to cope with whatever temperature increases are inevitable. More recently, a number of nations approved an addition to the treaty: the Kyoto Protocol, which has more powerful (and legally binding) measures.

The Conference of the Parties (COP) usually meets annually for a period of two weeks. These sessions are attended by several thousand government delegates, observer organizations, and journalists. The Conference of the Parties evaluates the status of climate change and the effectiveness of the treaty. It examines the activities of member countries, particularly by reviewing national communications and emissions inventories; it considers new scientific findings; and it tries to capitalize on experience as efforts to address climate change proceed.

For more information about the UNFCCC, please check the official website.