For Media
Youths from around the world ‘Adopt a Negotiator’ at Copenhagen talks
Copenhagen: In a unique global initiative, young people from 13 pivotal countries are attending the Copenhagen talks, having ‘adopted’ their chief negotiator. The trackers closely monitor their negotiator and report back to their home countries, via dedicated blogs, twitter and other social media. Having built close relationships with the negotiators prior to COP15, they are uniquely positioned to represent the voice of youth from their countries and feedback the inside track on the negotiations via their social networks.
The aim of the programme is to make the UNFCCC process more transparent, more understandable and more relevant to young people. Since June, young the participants have worked hard to build personal relationships with their government delegation and regularly meet with them face-to-face/mi. They track the policy details and breaking developments in their delegation’s negotiating activities and disseminate cutting edge information through social-media networks.
Anna Collins, the UK tracker, says: “We thought it was time to let our negotiators know we are here and we are watching them. One of the reasons engagement in the UN process is so hard is because it is complex, dry, and full of language that no one outside the system can understand. That’s where we come in. For years negotiations about our future have been happening in a bubble. We thought it was time to burst it!”
Notes to Editors:
**The trackers are available for interview for the duration of the Copenhagen talks. Interviews would be conducted in their home language, at the Bella Centre, or by phone - download full advisory for individual contact info**
For more information, or to arrange an interview, contact:
Joshua Wiese, Project Coordinator: + 45 52 68 37 81 (Copenhagen Mobile)
About adopt-a-negotiator:
Representing 13 countries and speaking 9 different languages, the mission of the Adopt a Negotiator project is to change the way citizens from around the world engage in the UN process. By interacting in the process in person at Copenhagen they are able to bring direct representation from youth voices around the world.
The trackers write without organizational affiliations and disseminate their articles as widely as possible. The adopt-a-negotiator project is supported by the Global Campaign for Climate Action (GCCA), as part of the TckTckTck campaign: www.tcktcktck.org.