I’ve now been back from my Brazilian Adventure for 2 weeks and am still processing the experience, the learnings and the global networks I made. In short, the World Youth Congress was different to my expectations, and I definitely felt challenged to overcome the various obstacles that came from camping, a vegetarian menu and varying levels of English. Before I write a post about my experiences and insights I wanted to share the key outcome from the congress, despite the failings of the Rio+20 Conference that followed. These 20 solutions put forward by the 300 delegates at the World Youth Congress show promise and purpose from a rising generation and makes me feel hopeful for a future under the leadership of this generation.
Please read on to see our 20 solutions. We’re ready to reclaim the future for generations to come.
“The time for statements, petitions and lobbying is over.
This is an action plan.
We, the youth of the world, are occupying the future we want with these 20 solutions.
Our message to governments: you have failed us! You can work with us or be dragged along by us.
The world we currently live in lacks equity, justice and sustainability.
We invite the youth of the world to confront this.
Act now and reclaim the future for generations to come.
Act now and make these solutions your own.
1. Put sustainability at the center of education
2. Let youth lead governments, corporations and society into sustainability
3. Make it easy for youth to start businesses by providing capital, tax-breaks and reducing administrative bureaucracy.
4. Redesign our economy to be sustainable and to make people happy by moving away from insatiable consumption practices.
5. Shift to the use of renewable resources, and effectively make use of non-renewable resources to make this happen.
6. Make the best use out of energy – be efficient.
7. Reduce your footprint, soundly manage the waste you leave.
8. Sustain what all life is based on – water.
9. Enforce regulations against pollution, exploitation and degradation of our oceans.
10. Recognize the realities and impacts of climate change, take responsibility, demand accountability and act to reduce emissions.
11. Recognize the links between development and vulnerability to natural disasters, to integrate place-based disasters risk reduction and sustainable development.
12. Demand biodiversity conservation, the ending of mass species extinction and habitat degradation.
13. Recognize ecocide as a crime against humanity and nature.
14.Respect the right to healthcare.
15. Produce food for people and the plant, not just for money.
16. restrict transnational corporations power over food systems.
17. Recognize gender empowerment and freedom of sexual and gender choice in a society free of discrimination.
18. Promote democratic youth representation amongst societies’ decision-making processes.
19. Make the world a non-conflict zone lead by youth peacemakers.
20. Acknowledge that the respect of human rights is integral part of sustainable development.”
These 20 solutions are also available to read online here.
caitlinramrakha.com 