UNA-UK Climate Change Challenge
UNA-UK held four conferences in 2008-2009 to discuss climate change from an international, national and local perspective. These events (2007-2009) helped to generate a critical mass of support and pressure in the UK for British leadership in the global fight against climate change in the run-up to the Copenhagen summit.
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Copenhagen Watch
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Making waves for action on climate change
On 5 December, UNA-UK, YPN and UNYSA members took part in 'The Wave', the UK's biggest-ever climate change demonstration and marched through central London to encircle the Houses of Parliament. Organised by the Stop Climate Chaos coalition (of which UNA-UK is a member), the event saw well over 50,000 people clad in blue from head to toe take to the streets to urge world leaders to seal the deal at the UN summit in Copenhagen.
Morris Marah, a member of UNA-UK's youth wing UNYSA, said 'climate change is a serious issue that can't just be ignored - we're here to make sure it isn't'.
Helen Franzen, a member of UNA-UK's Young Professionals Network, said 'politicians need to to agree a fair and effective global climate deal at Copenhagen - the pressure is on'
A recent poll carried out by the BBC shows that concern is not confined to the UK, with two-thirds of the population in 23 countries expressing fears over the impact of climate change.
Much is at stake over the next few days as delegates from 192 countries meet in Copenhagen. Yvo de Boer, the UN's top climate change official, said recently "Negotiators now have the clearest signal ever from world leaders to craft solid proposals to implement rapid action,"
But action will be needed beyond Copenhagen, so it is vital that we keep up the campaigning and making waves!
From our own correspondent: UNYSA's campaign blog reports on the Wave
© Maria Stenzel/National Geographic
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