The Youth Summit, which runs from November 24 until November 28, is the first in a series of Parallel Events that will take place in Montreal over the next two weeks. 

Canadian youth are hosting 40 international youth from 30 developed and developing countries.  They are working on the Declaration around the clock and are voting on it three times within 48 hours, starting yesterday, November 26. 

Their inspiration comes from their varied backgrounds -- from climate change activists to geographers to researchers in oil and gas development.  What unites them is one goal:  to engage their generation and the next generation in tackling climate change.  They know it will take their energy and commitment to initiate, innovate and implement both global and local changes.

What motivated these youth to apply for a delegate position at the Summit?  For Jochen Link, a German student of renewable energy, it was growing up near a nuclear power plant that taught him the importance of environment.  For Julie Thériault from St-Quentin, New Brunswick, it is her belief that the future “lies in the palms of your hands.”

For more information on the International Youth Summit go to:

http://www.beyondkyoto.org/index.en.html
http://www.biosphere.ec.gc.ca/