EU ministers meet for a fresh young perspective even as more youth get blocked from negotiations 

Inside the Copenhagen negotiations today, EU ministers came to have a frank exchange of views with young people from the European Youth Climate Movement. Participants included Ministers from Ireland, Belgium and the French Secretary of State and special envoys from the Netherlands and Finland. In an opening address Irish Environmental Minister John Gormley likened the current negotiations to a student studying for an exam who hasn’t been studying and suddenly realises they have to cram.  

All present agreed that finance was a key issue and Minister Gormley clearly stated his position was that any finance must be additional to overseas aid. In a refreshing statement of views Secretary of State to Ecology, Chantal Jouanno, noted that “food security and water are not taken into consideration at all in this negotiation”. She also highlighted the overlooked issue of Climate Refugees and noting “it will come very quickly” cautioned youth present to be prepared and be ready to support them. 

When asked if they felt that they represented youth in their negotiations all replied yes, but both the French and Dutch envoys said that it was their specific view and not necessarily their entire delegacies’. The Finnish envoy was ased about his views of transformative education methods such as Education for Sustainable Development and replied advocating the powers of such education in getting people to consume less and differently.  

Part of the meeting gave the politicians a chance to ask for a youth perspective and Mr Van Mejenfeldt, the Dutch Special Envoy on Climate Change “Put yourself in my shoes” as he asked young people what they would do if they were tasked the role of an EU negotiator, particularly in deciding upon how countries get adaptation funding? In response Jonathan Sundqvist from Sweden called for a transparent fund mechanism governed by the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.  

“It was a strong signal to youth that there were so many high level speakers came to meet with us to get our opinions and listen to our demands” spoke youth delegate Ilona Mäkinen from Finland. “However, it is still visible that some countries value youth opinion more than others” stated Falko Mohrs, the official German youth delegate. Agreeing with this opinion, Ilona added that “while I appreciate that we could meet with the ministers, it’s terrible that over 75% of registered youth delegates have been shut out today”. Further cuts in the numbers of NGO observer organisations are expected this week, with only 90 representatives of the over 15,000 accredited NGO delegates allowed in on Friday. 

The European Youth Climate Movement is a network of European youth organisations such as the European Youth Forum, Federation of young European Greens and Young Friends of the Earth working together to give a coordinated youth input into the negotiations.