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Youth4Pacific
Pre-COP Gathering
Panels
23rd - 24th September 2021 | Virtual Gathering
The Gathering will feature six plenary sessions that will engage both experts and young people in a conversation around six thematic areas drawing out concerns, experiences, and best practices to be included in the 'Youth4Pacific Declaration on Climate Change'.
Thematic panels run concurrently, therefore, a choice between two thematic areas will need to be made:
THURSDAY 23 SEPTEMBER | DAY 1
FRIDAY 24 SEPTEMBER | DAY 2
THEMATIC SESSION 1: CLEAN ENERGY & TRANSPORTATION
THURSDAY 23 SEPTEMBER | 10:30am - 11:30am GMT+12
Thematic 1
Pacific Island leaders demand a fossil-free future, thus a transition to more climate-friendly forms of energy. Despite being a negligible emitter of greenhouse gasses, the Pacific region continues to bear the brunt of the ever-increasing threat of natural hazards exacerbated by the fossil-fuel industry. The session will draw on new and existing approaches and strategies towards clean energy and transport practiced in the Pacific and recognising the necessity of youth accompaniment in ensuring longevity and sustainability of practices.
OPENING PLENARY
THURSDAY 23 SEPTEMBER | 9:00am - 9:45am GMT+12
Opening Planery
Ken O'Flaherty
COP26 Regional Ambassador
Asia-Pacific
Levan Bouadze
Resident Representative
UNDP Pacific Office
Okalani Mariner
Vice-President and Co-Founder
Lanulau’ava Student Association
Kunal Singh
Climate Policy Officer
British High Commission - Suva
Click on photos/names to access speaker bios
THEMATIC SESSION 2: COMMUNITY & NATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS
THURSDAY 23 SEPTEMBER | 10:30am - 11:30am GMT+12
Nature-based solutions for climate harness the power of nature to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help us adapt to the impacts of climate change. They are win-win solutions that involve protecting, restoring, and sustainably managing ecosystems to address society's challenges and promote human well-being. The session will focus on the role of young people in the Pacific in implementing and amplifying nature-based solutions in the Pacific, while also addressing concerns at COP26.
Thematic 2
Moñeka De Oro
Micronesia Climate
Alliance
Rev. James Bhagwan
Pacific Conference of
Churches
Iva Nancy Vunikura
Drua Experience
Taholo Kami
KamiPasifiki Solutions
Akuila Sovanivalu
MODERATOR
THEMATIC SESSION 3: ADAPTATION & RESILIENCE
THURSDAY 23 SEPTEMBER | 2:00pm - 3:00pm GMT+12
Fred Fuakilau
Pacific Grow
Kathy Jetnil-Kijiner
Jo-Jikum
Noelene Nabulivou
DIVA
Jacynta Fa'amau
350.org Pacific
Rosi Waqanisau
MODERATOR
Click on photos/names to access speaker bios
Communities across the Pacific are working with many organizations to address multiple societal challenges; in particular, providing benefits for both human well-being and biodiversity in the face of anthropogenic climate impacts. Collective actions encourage the conservation, rehabilitation, and management of natural and semi-natural ecosystems; and adaptation to increasing climate change impacts. The session will highlight the adaptiveness and resilience of communities and synergies of existing efforts with global nature-based solutions to address the global climate crisis. It will also highlight the importance of the inclusion of youth in adaptation and resilience work.
Thematic 3
THEMATIC SESSION 4: OCEAN HEALTH & SUSTAINABILITY
THURSDAY 23 SEPTEMBER | 2:00pm - 3:00pm GMT+12
Pelenise Alofa
KiriCAN
Gareth Quity
SoloCAN
Salote Soqo
Unitarian Universalist
Service Committee
So'oula Tafau
Active Citizens Samoa
Brianna Fruean
MODERATOR
The Pacific holds over 707.5 million km-cubed of water, more than twice that of any other ocean body. The oceans also play a critical role in capturing CO2 from the atmosphere while the living resources of the Pacific Ocean represent a rich natural capital that provides benefits for all people in and beyond the region. These benefits are called ecosystem services and include a broad range of connections between the environment, development and human well-being. The session will focus on the complex discussion of the ocean-climate nexus, the impacts of increased carbon emissions on ocean health, the importance of healthy oceans to the Pacific and the role of young people in the Pacific in the ongoing implementation of constructive and practical solutions to maintain and protect our ocean.
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Thematic 4
THEMATIC SESSION 5: LOSS & DAMAGE
FRIDAY 24 SEPTEMBER | 9:15am - 10:15am GMT+12
Salote Nasalo
PaCE-SD
USP
Andrew Paris
USP
Eferemo Kubunavanua
Wildlife Conservation
Society
Alisi Rabukawaqa
Pacific Climate Warriors
Komal Kumar
MODERATOR
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Climate extremes cause devastating impacts across the globe. These are impacts of slow-onset processes like sea-level rise or rising temperatures, and extreme events such as floods, hurricanes and tropical cyclones. Loss and Damage – which means climate impacts exceeding the adaptive capacity of countries, communities, and ecosystems – is already happening and has ramifications for many Pacific Island Countries. The session will focus on the economic and non-economic aspects of loss and damage and how Pacific communities are dealing with everyday lived realities.
Thematic 5
THEMATIC SESSION 6: CLIMATE FINANCE
FRIDAY 24 SEPTEMBER | 9:15am - 10:15am GMT+12
Dr Viliamu Iese
PaCE-SD
USP
Solomon Yeo
Pacific Island Students
Fighting Climate Change
Mia Kami
350 Fiji
Lavetanalagi Seru
MODERATOR
Pacific leaders have been calling on a commitment to transforming the public and private financial system, at the domestic level and regional level. As such, financial flows must be compatible and in line with a 1.5-degree pathway, climate-resilient development, and just recovery efforts, which includes ceasing financing of fossil fuel projects and investing in 100% renewable energy projects. The session will focus on how climate financing instruments can be better adapted to the Pacific context, the need for more effective approaches, and the concerns that need addressing at COP26.
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Thematic 6
YOUTH4PACIFIC DECLARATION: KEY TAKEAWAYS
FRIDAY 24 SEPTEMBER | 12:00pm - 1:00pm GMT+12
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In this plenary session, the moderators will report back to the Gathering on the five key learnings from each of the thematic areas.
Facilitated by:
Sivendra Michael
Active Citizens Pacific
Founder
Feedback on the Youth4Pacific Declaration on Climate Change
FRIDAY 24 SEPTEMBER | 2:00pm - 3:30pm GMT+12
Youths will have the opportunity to provide feedback on the proposed Youth4Pacific Declaration including language within the six thematic areas. During this session, moderators will facilitate a 90-minute session on collecting support for or suggested edits to the text.
Facilitated by:
Declaration 1
Declaration 2
Ilisapeci Masivesi
Oxfam in the Pacific
Moortaza Jiwani
United Nations
Development Program
Hansol Park
Green Climate Fund
Noa Seru
USAID Climate Ready
Dylan Kava
MODERATOR
Sivendra Michael is the founder of Active Citizens Pacific and also a Pacific researcher specialised in disaster risk reduction. His work in the region is aimed at inspiring, educating and empowering young people to take action on climate change.
Sivendra Michael
Active Citizens Pacific
Founder
Joseph Sikulu is the Managing Director for 350.org in the Pacific, he also serves on the Pacific Climate Warriors Secretariat. He is an Environmental, Cultural, and Queer activist finding his strength in the cross-section of these communities from people who like him are fighting to shift the narrative and create a more just and equitable world.
Joseph Sikulu
350.org Pacific
Managing Director
Presentation of the Youth4Pacic Declaration on Climate Change
FRIDAY 24 SEPTEMBER | 3:45pm - 4:00pm GMT+12
Declaration 3
The Youth4Pacific Organising Committee will present the final declaration to all attendees for endorsement and lead a discussion on the next steps to progressing the declaration to COP26
Facilitated by:
Joseph Sikulu
350.org Pacific
Managing Director
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