A Rio+20

Toolkit Series :

Part I

Our Future is Worth It:

How YOUth can take ACTION for

Sustainable Development

In partnership with:

Get Started

From 20-22 June 2012, thousands of delegates and heads of state will meet in Rio

de Janeiro, Brazil, to discuss the world’s future*. This conference could be con-

sidered as the most important one in the history of the United Nations so far:

The Rio+20 Conference on Sustainable Development

In 1992, Rio was the stage for the first Earth Summit,

where it was recognized that human actions and the

way humans had been organizing the world was caus-

ing severe inequality and harm to the planet. It be-

came urgent to make sustainable development a

priority to secure the survival of the planet.

Twenty years on, a lot of positive changes have taken

place, but it’s not enough. A lot of things still need

fixing. This means that strong decisions need to be

taken at Rio in June.

Everyone should participate in making those decisions happen.

The decisions taken in Rio

this June will have an impact

on how the world will be, and

on the future of young

people across the world.

Something big is happening….

Most of us will not be able to travel to Rio. However, the most important decision makers are us. Sustainable

development is not just for politicians to handle—as young people, we inherit the consequences of the deci-

sions taken now. This is why it is important for each of us to think globally, act locally and raise our voice.

Every action counts!

This toolkit series will help you to:

Gain more practical knowledge about sustainable development

Become informed about the background and happenings related to Rio+20

Take local action by joining other young people to make

a real, lasting impact on shaping the brighter future we

all want!

Thank you for taking the step to learn more about sustainable

development, Rio+20, and you! Look out for webinars, videos

and other information. We look forward to keeping you in the

know!

IN THIS ISSUE

What is Sustainable

Development

pp. 2 - 3

Introduction to MGCY

pp. 4 - 5

Developing your

personal message pp.

6 - 8

Success Stories

p. 9

Contacts

p. 10

*

1

Sustainability requires looking at everything as parts of a whole: the issues

which we face are multiple and complex. We need a vision which addresses the

wellbeing of people and the planet together.

There is no clear definition of sustainable development. SD truly occurs

when economy, environment and society are in perfect harmony.

We should approach sustainable development by considering that everything

is interconnected across generations and across countries.

This may seem daunting— how do we keep track of everything? We all need to

understand the principles behind sustainable development; principles such as

equality, green living and social justice. Then, it will be easier to reach some

agreement about what sustainable development truly is, and what the conditions

necessary to achieve it are.

Sustainable development is more than just caring about the environment or

generating money through economic growth. It is the intersection of THREE

pillars: ENVIRONMENT, ECONOMY and SOCIETY.

When we think of sustainable development, we must think of a system, where

the decisions taken ensure that each component of the system—man, trees,

environment, society, wealth—is capable of flourishing without hindering the

capacity of the other component to do so, whether in the present or in the

future.

Sustainable Development

Sustainable develop-

ment is about balance

and a holistic approach

to development. This

means that some things

need to be preserved

and sustained while oth-

ers should be given the

incentive to be

developed.

What needs to be

sustained:

People and Cultures

Natural Resources

Biodiversity

Environment and

Ecosystems

What needs to be

developed.

Quality of Life

Justice and Social

Equality

Equal Opportunity

Institutions

Fair Income

Culture of Sustainability

The most agreed upon definition of sustainable development comes from the

Brundtland Report in 1987, a document which introduced the concept of

sustainable development on the political agenda:

“Sustainable development is development that meets

the needs of the present without compromising the

ability of future generations to meet their own

needs.”

Systems Approach

Understanding Sustainable Development

2

What is my role in Sustainable Development (SD)?

Sustainable development requires the active involvement of all stakeholders:

governments, NGOs, private sector but also civil society. It is not just politicians, or policy

makers, who decide what SD should be like. The most important stakeholder in SD is YOU!

You can push policy-makers to make decisions that protect your future. You can

demand better jobs, cleaner cities, more equal sharing of resources. Above all, you can

push policy-makers to guarantee a secure future full of opportunities, a pleasant world

to live in and a healthy planet.

Sustainable development is especially important for young

people. The sustainable development policies

implemented today determine the future we will inherit !

By advocating for sustainable development and adopting

sustainable practices, you are actively participating in

shaping your own future.

Making sustainable decisions….

The challenge is to devise policies which balance economic growth, environmental

protection, and social equality. We can measure the progress of sustainable

development policies using established indicators to evaluate if more needs to be done!

We need to think about others and view our contributions as part of a system, to shape

SD policies achieve goals that are beneficial to each of us and our planet.

Elements needed

for Sustainable

Development

Remember:

Sustainable

Development is

about you.

Previously we

mentioned what

needs to be

sustained and

what needs to be

developed.

What items do

you think should

be sustained ?

What items do

you think should

be developed?

Make a list and

discuss it with

friends.

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The MGCY operates on the above principles.

These principles guide our work in terms of

policy and what we advocate for, and also

how we work together.

The Major Group for Children and Youth (MGCY) is the official voice for

young people in the UN sustainability negotiations, specifically the Commis-

sion on Sustainable Development (CSD) and the Rio+20 Earth Summit.

The MGCY is made up of organisations and individuals who care about the

sustainability of our planet and actively want to participate in shaping the

future. Through networking and collaborating with young people around the

world, we develop policy recommendations for the official sustainable devel-

opment process and participate in the negotiations to lobby for their adop-

tion. In addition, the MGCY is a platform for youth involved in sustainability

at a local level to share their ideas, tell their stories and voice their opinions.

The MGCY is open to every young person and the more people involved, the

stronger our influence will be to inspire change. At the United Nations, we

design the way the world works. We design the future.

The MGCY is your voice. Let it be heard.

Youth have an official voice on sustainable development at

the United Nations.

How does the MGCY work?

The work of the MGCY is done entirely by volunteers:

international young people who are committed to making a

difference. There are different layers of organisation within

the MGCY to help facilitate the inclusion of youth voices in the

sustainability process.

Organising partners

The Organising Partners (OP) are the main liaison between the

MGCY and UNDESA, the UN Department of Economic and So-

cial Affairs, under which the CSD and Rio+20 fall. Their main

role is to disseminate relevant data and information for the

MGCY to help facilitate activities that maximise youth

participation.

Facilitation Team

The Facilitation Team (FT) is the MGCY's decision-making

body with the mandate to facilitate children and youth

participation and activities within the MGCY and

Rio+20 process. Members of the FT are energetic and result

oriented people with a common interest in advancing the

role of young people, and working with the MGCY.

Task Forces

Three Task Forces (TFs) have been established in line with

the thematic discussions for Rio+20. The TFs are focused on

policy contributions and work with youth internationally to

develop and lobby for policy that reflects the voices, aspira-

tions and concerns, of youth.

Working Groups

Youth activism with the MGCY is facilitated through the

Working Groups (WGs). Different WGs have been estab-

lished to enable young people with different interests to get

involved in their own capacity. The WGs have a primary

focus of inspiring local action to help build the strength of

the youth voices in the process.

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Task Forces: Facilitating youth involvement for the creation and advocacy of policy amendments.

There are three MGCY Task Forces aligned with the objectives of Rio+20 who work towards creating policy. The Task Forces are:

Green Economy in the context of Sustainable Development and Poverty Eradication.

Institutional Framework (Governance) Objectives

These Task Forces developed the MGCY contribution to the ‘Zero Draft’, which will become the primary negotiating text at Rio+20. Since then, we have been attending formal and informal negotiations to advocate for our points and influence policy. Here’s an overview of the groups: Green Economy The Green Economy aims to create an economic model that fully integrates sustainable development and poverty eradication. MGCY believes it is a system that can improve human wellbeing and social equality within the carrying capacity of the planet. We have developed youth-specific policy recommendations, such as youth employment through green jobs for youth , and lobby for these to be adopted. Institutional Framework—Governance The MGCY believes there is a need for reform in the governance for sustain-able development. We believe that the establishment of ombudspersons for future generations and the greater participation of all stakeholders provide concrete solutions to shift the focus of our decision-making from short-term benefits to the long-term interests of younger and future generations. Objectives The MGCY objective for Rio+20 is commitment to the implementation of sustainable development, guided by a number of goals. The MGCY are creating a vision of these goals that integrate existing arrangements, in-clude the 7 critical issues and have an action oriented approach. The MGCY also advocates for improved monitoring and evaluation mechanisms.

the working groups

Join us now. Get involved! The MGCY is your platform—the platform for all youth!

5

The first step in

influencing

Rio+20 is to talk

about it!

Getting the message

across—Remember:

Do your homework—

learn a bit more about

the topic so that you

feel more confident

Know WHO your

audience is

Know WHERE your

audience is located

(find out their back-

ground)

Know WHAT does your

audience already

know?

Make it interesting!

Sustainability does not

have to be formal or

boring!

First, know some quick facts about sustainable development and Rio+20!

1. People participate in Rio+20 through the 9 Major Groups. The UNCSD Major

Group of Children and Youth (MGCY) focuses on engaging young people in

the Rio+20 process and tangible sustainable actions after Rio.

2. Sustainability includes a protected environment, prevents climate change,

respects all living beings and creates positive social change for us now and

in the future.

3. There are seven critical issues that are going to centre discussions at the

conference. These are: Jobs, Oceans, Energy, Water, Food, Cities and

Disasters. (Note: see the 7 issues explanation graphic on the next page

which explains the importance of each issue. You can even use it as a hand-

out!)

Next, know where to direct people for more information.

Everyone processes information differently, and having a clear way to access re-

sources is always helpful. The best place to direct people with internet access is

the Rio +20 official website for Children and Youth: uncsdchildrenyouth.org.

If internet access is not available, share the country overview drafted by outreach

team leaders about the issues instead. After you are familiar with quick facts and

you know where to directs

The next installment of our toolkit will tell

you all you need to know about Rio+20!

The Rio+20 conference is focused on na-

tions renewing their commitments to sus-

tainable development. Two main themes

will be discussed—how to have a "green"

economy and how to create a good

framework for sustainable develop-

ment. You can do some background

checks yourself on:

http://www.uncsd2012.org/rio20/index.html

Talking about sustainability can feel intimidating at first, but once you get the hang

of it, it becomes easier.

You do not have to be an expert to spread the word. Sustainability affects all of us,

so relating your cause to that of others is already easier than you may first think!

How to talk about Sustainable Development and

Rio+20 : Develop your own message.

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7 critical issues for Rio+20. A

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des

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GET INSPIRED:

Take a look at this video that

communicates why Rio+20 is

important.

http://vimeo.com/37579437

Where is your audience

located?

It may not be necessary to talk

about consuming less in a place

where there is not enough for

people to consume.

Instead, it may be more

appropriate to speak about how

to deal with waste in ways that

are easier on the earth.

You decide the information you

want to use to open up the

dialogue; you know best what

makes the most sense in your

area of the world.

Who is your audience?

Be ready to give more, or less,

information, depending on

who you are talking to (this is

where knowing where to direct

people for additional

information comes in handy!)

You do not have to be an

expert. Just talk about what

you know.

People become interested in

what you believe in, so speak

about sustainable develop-

ment from your own

experience and perspective.

This will make you more

comfortable speaking about it.

What does your audience already

know?

One way to open up a

conversation is to start by

talking about what information

you find interesting as

information.

Talking about sustainable

development does not have to

be discussed formally, just

speak as you would with

friends, comfortably, in a lan-

guage which you all understand.

After you are familiar with quick facts and you know where to direct people for further information,

you can start developing a strategy for how to talk to people about sustainability and Rio.

Key elements you should think about are:

WHO WHERE WHAT

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One of the main issues affecting the environment is

deforestation. Read about Prem Bahadur Boharas’s

reforestation project in Nepal:

“I believe that every child has potential capacity to make

a difference in his/her own life, school and community

where they live” - Prem Bahadur Bohara, Earth Child

Institute Nepal

Prem heads the NGO Earth Child International (ECI)

Nepal, that works with the community and local schools to

restore the environment. In 2012, ECI Nepal launched the

“Green School Campaign”. The campaign aims to educate

and inspire young people to plant 100, 000 trees before

June.

According to Prem, the key is to empower young people

through practical education and skills toward green and

healthy lives. Informing youth in a way that relates to their personal experience, allows

Prem to be successful in his work. “Here, climate change is considered as a global issue but

we know we need to tackle it locally”, says Prem.

Prem’s story: Educate the

Children,

Reforesting Nepal

“One person can make a difference and everyone should try.” These words from J.F.Kennedy will always ring

true. Changing the world is a daunting task and you will be faced with doubt. Young people across the world are

trying to make the world better in their own way.

Here is an example of how to

deliver a strong message for

sustainable development. This is an

extract from the powerful speech

given by Severn Suzuki Cullis, who

raised her voice about her future 20 years ago at the plenary of the

first Earth Summit:

“(…) Coming here today,

I have no hidden agenda.

I am fighting for my fu-

ture. Losing my future is

not like losing an election

or a few points on the

stock market. I am here

to speak for all genera-

tions to come. I am here

to speak on behalf of the

starving children around

the world whose cries go

unheard. I am here to

speak for the countless

animals dying across this

planet because they have

nowhere left to go. We

cannot afford to be not

heard. I am afraid to go out in the sun now because of the holes in

the ozone. I am afraid to breathe the air because I don’t know

what chemicals are in it. I used to go fishing in Vancouver with my

dad until just a few years ago we found the fish full of cancers.

And now we hear about animals and plants going exinct every

day — vanishing forever. In my life, I have dreamt of seeing the

great herds of wild animals, jungles and rainforests full of birds

and butterflies, but now I wonder if they will even exist for my

children to see. Did you have to worry about these little things

when you were my age? All this is happening before our eyes and

yet we act as if we have all the time we want and all the solutions.

I’m only a child and I don’t have all the solutions, but I want you to

realise, neither do you!

* You don’t know how to fix the holes in our ozone layer.

* You don’t know how to bring salmon back up a dead stream.

* You don’t know how to bring back an animal now extinct.

* And you can’t bring back forests that once grew where there is

now desert.

If you don’t know how to fix it, please stop breaking it!

I’m only a child yet I know we are all part of a family, five billion

strong, in fact, 30 million species strong and we all share the same

air, water and soil — borders and governments will never change

that. I’m only a child yet I know we are all in this together and

should act as one single world towards one single goal.

“The girl who silenced the world” - at

the age of 12, Severn Suzuki Cullis ad-

dressed the plenary of the first Earth

Summit (1992) with a powerful message.

You can see her whole speech here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=uZsDliXzyAY

Youth-led successes in Sustainable Development

Everyone has the

potential to make a

difference.

People can be taught

about complex issues

like sustainable

development by

connecting them to

their own experience.

You can address

global issues with

simple local actions.

A Strong Message...

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Learn more about Rio+20 and gather more resources in Part 2 of our series.

Part 2 will tell you all about Rio+20 , tips and tricks for lobbying and more!

If you are interested in getting involved, taking action, or simply knowing more about

what we’re doing, feel free to contact any of us for more information:

MAJOR GROUP FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH

Website: http://uncsdchildrenyouth.org/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/UNCSDYouthCaucus

Twitter: @MGCY_UNCSD

EARTH CHARTER INTERNATIONAL

Website: http://www.earthcharterinaction.org/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/EarthCharter

Twitter: @earthcharter

EOTO WORLD

Website: http://www.eotoworld.org/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/EOTOWorld

Twitter: @EOTOWorld

CONTACT US

Thanks and acknowledgements

Authors : Barkha Mossae (Mauritius), Sasha Pratt (UK), Neringa

Miliauskaite (Lithuania), Elischia Fludd (USA), Nora Mahmoud (Costa

Rica/USA) .

Contributors for Part 1: Aanas Ali (Thailand), Kiara Worth (S.Africa), Saba

Loftus (Ireland), Sini Illmonen (Finland), Prem Bohara (Nepal) and every-

one who gave their valuable input and feedback.

Photo Credits: Oliver Rieche, Cynthia Keza, and Vietnam Jump , Radomir

Dolejsi, and Kyle Kaianaupuni Robertson.

THANK YOU

This completes the first section of our Rio+20 toolkit series.

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