United Nations Radio

The Children's Climate Change Forum taking place in Copenhagen gathered some 160 youth delegates from over 44 countries. They represent the young people of the world in the lead up to the 15th United Nations Climate Change Conference. Eight of the delegates will have the opportunity to speak to world leaders. Each of the lucky delegates has a hard hitting message to pass on. Here's a glimpse of what four of those delegates will put emphasis on in their message. UNICEF's Natacha Ikoli reports.

Narrator: Fifteen year old Axam from the Republic of the Maldives interviewed fellow countryman Mohamed. In this exchange, they underlined the climate change challenges faced by their country.

Axam: What is Maldives in relation to climate change? Why are we worried about Maldives?

Mohamed: Maldives is very much related to climate change because as we know, we are only about one meter above the sea level and we are very vulnerable due to global warming and ice caps are melting and due to the sea level rise, we may go under the sea very soon.

Axam: So what is your message to all the leaders at Cop 15?

Mohamed: My message is I want to tell them how vulnerable we are due to the developed countries actions we are suffering a lot. We are not the people who are emitting so much carbon and doing such stuff so it's not fair. We are suffering a lot.

Youth delegates holding the written text of the Children's Climate Forum Declaration

Narrator: Mary from Haiti describes the suffering of her people due to increasing natural disasters but also the part they play in global warming.

Mary: First of all, in Haiti, we contribute to global warming by systematically cutting trees to make charcoal. But we are affected by climate change mostly because of numerous natural disasters. For example, Gonaieve, was flooded lately and many people died. Global warming also brings us diseases. Being a tropical country, every time it rains, it creates swamps that attract mosquitoes. This is somehow how we are affected in Haiti.

Narrator: In many regions of the world, rising temperatures threaten water sources and agriculture. Fifteen year old Lorraine explains how in her native Kenya, it is forcing local people to migrate from place to place to find both food and water.

Lorraine: My area is a semi-arid area, that's the climate experience, very high temperatures, it's a dry place too so we do not get enough food in that area. Most kids in my area they get malnutrition deficiency disease like malariasma, [be]cause they do not get food. Some fail to go to school, because maybe there's no food at home and have to go and look for food. Violence goes in search for food and water, leave us back at home so we do not get enough parental care and love.

Narrator: Youth powered solutions can be very creative and often an example of what can be done on the individual level. Cyndy from South Africa says that it is not too late for young people to help the situation:

Cyndy: Firstly, young people, they should start using public transport just to reduce the carbon emissions, start using bicycles, walking to school and saving energy.

Producer: Natacha Ikoli, UNICEF
Duration: 3'07"