COP22 is the 22nd Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). It is the main annual meeting of all nations under the UNFCCC to build and strengthen intergovernmental climate policy. COP22 will be from November 7-18, 2016, in Marrakech, Morocco. This year’s COP is deemed as “COP of Action” to build up the momentum after Paris Agreement.
Who is Malaysian Youth Delegation (MYD)?
The Malaysian Youth Delegation (MYD) is the voice of the Malaysian youth climate movement at international United Nations climate conferences, UNFCCC. We strike to represent the demands of a generation working and to advocate for a just, safe, and livable future for all.
What does the delegation do?
Prior to COP22, delegates are expected to undergo trainings and perform other operational work such as fundraising, logistical support, leading on artistic elements of action. Our trainings will cover the 3 primary tracks of MYD: Media, Mobilisation and Advocacy.
Media: maintain our online social media presence, produce knowledge articles before COP, craft MYD newsletter during COP, write press release template, pitch delegation stories to larger media outlets, track media hits
Mobilization: train delegates for how to plan actions in the UN Space, coordinate with other action planning hubs,
Advocacy: tracking policy development in the UNFCCC, train delegates in advocacy aspects of the UNFCCC and the MYD support strategic policy engagements for the delegation through lobbying and other associated efforts.
Delegates will be constantly producing knowledge articles based on the above tracks, and will be published on PowerShift Malaysia website as part of the training. This year, we also aimed to conduct a national climate change survey which acts as the basis of producing a Malaysian youth statement on climate change. Besides, we will have the opportunity to work with government officials, civil society representatives, and youth from around the world, all while organizing direct actions, coordinating media outreach, and lobbying government delegates.
Nevertheless, we are open to new and creative ideas on how our delegation can most effectively push for the world we need!
One of our fund raising and outreach event @ Malaysiaku Rice Festival 2015
MYD Representative giving opening speech on the Promulgation Ceremony of Malaysian Youth Statement on Climate Change 2015 Find out more about the statement: http://powershiftmalaysia.org.my/malaysian-youth-statement-on-climate-change-towards-cop21/
MYD 2015 meeting up with ASEAN Youths @ ASEAN PowerShift.
What are we going to do in COP22?
The selected delegation to COP22 is expected to track the negotiation process and report back to local and online audiences via social media updates and articles writing. You also have the chance to take part in youth-led mobilisations or actions that will be happening in or outside of the venue.
For a better picture, you may read the article collections of MYD 2015 in COP21:
Delegates are expected to begin work around mid-June. Delegates are expected to commit ~5 hours per week on preparations for COP22 from June to October 2016. A crucial aspect of this is participating in bi-weekly conference calls with other delegation members. This time commitment will increase as the negotiations draw closer.
Delegates are strongly encouraged to attend the Conference of Youth 12 (4-6 November 2016), the entire COP22 conference (7-18 November 2016), and a post-conference reflection (19-21 November 2016). We also anticipate hosting a 2-day in-person delegation preparatory training. We will determine the dates and location for this in-person training after the delegation is finalised.
Note that your commitment will fluctuate depending on your role in the team.
MYD facilitating the Asia Regional Breakout Group at Conference of Youth (COY 11) @ Paris prior to COP21.
Who are we looking for?
We welcome any Malaysian youths (age 18-30 by 1st Nov 2016) or youths who are currently based in Malaysia. If you are a Malaysian citizen who is overseas, you are welcomed to apply too!
MYD is hoping to have a diverse team of climate fighters: from action-oriented climate advocators to climate policy geeks and climate storytellers. No prior or minimum requirement is needed, as we believe everyone is here to learn. If you are a risk-taker who is willing to step out from your comfort zone and constantly challenge yourself, we want you!
Do I need to pay for anything?
We will do our very best to make this program financially accessible to all delegates – and with that said, delegates are inevitably responsible for covering their travel, housing, and food expenses. MYD and PowerShift Malaysia will work to secure grants, hold fundraisers, and help raise money to cover trip expenses. Delegates also typically undertake individual efforts to raise funds to cover their costs of attendance. Leading up to COP22, we’ll have members of the delegation, who are experienced in fundraising to support others through the process of personal fundraising.
When will I get the application results?
The application deadline is 15 May 23:59 (GMT8+). You will receive an application receipt once we received your Application Form AND Creative/Writing component. Kindly email us at powershiftmsia@gmail.com if you have not receive any reply from us after your submission.
First round of results will be out by end of May and you will be informed regardless of being shortlisted or not. Shortlisted applicants will then be called for an online screening interview. Final announcement of the delegation shall be on the early of June.
For more enquiries, write to us at powershiftmsia@gmail.com
With the signing of the Paris Agreement on 22nd April 2016 at the United Nations Headquarters, we are also opening our application for Malaysian Youth Delegation (MYD) to this year’s COP22, the 22nd Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) @ Marrakesh, Morocco!
COP22 will be another historic COP to build up the momentum right after Paris Agreement, and we’re excited to meet a delegation of change makers who are dedicated to fighting for a just and stable climate.
Your application is due 11:59 pm 15th May 2016, Sunday (GMT8+). – Online Form Here
We will do our very best to make this program financially accessible to all delegates – and with that said, delegates are inevitably responsible for covering their travel, housing, and food expenses. The MYD, will work to secure grants, hold fundraisers, and help raise money to cover trip expenses. Delegates also typically undertake individual efforts to raise funds to cover their costs of attendance. Leading up to COP22 we’ll have members of the delegation, who are experienced in fundraising, support others through the process of personal fundraising.
If you have more questions or concerns about the financial aspect of COP22, please feel free to reach out to us (powershiftmsia@gmail.com).
The Paris Climate Change Agreement opens for signature on 22 April 2016 during a high-level ceremony convened by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in New York, marking an important international push on the way to the agreement’s timely entry into force.
Guide to the Paris Agreement Signing Ceremony – Friday, 22 April 2016 – Click Here
Over 130 countries have confirmed to United Nations headquarters that they will attend the signing ceremony, including some 60 world leaders, amongst them President Francois Hollande of France
The event will also be attended by the President of COP21, France’s Segolene Royal, and the Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC, Christiana Figueres.
All Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change are invited to sign the agreement, taking note of established international practice that full powers are required to sign.
A country’s signature on the agreement initiates the critical domestic process, on which depends its final entry into force.
This process takes many separate forms and can be rapid or lengthier, depending on each country’s domestic practices. The outcome may be countries’ instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession.
Following each national completion of this process, instruments are submitted to the Depositary under the UN Secretary-General in New York. It is only once such an instrument is deposited that a country can be said to have ratified the Paris Agreement.
The Paris Agreement will enter into force on the 30th day after the date on which at least 55 Parties to the Convention accounting in total for at least an estimated 55 % of total global greenhouse gas emissions have deposited their instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession with the Depositary. An information note on the entry into force of the Paris Agreement is available here.
To mark this special signing ceremony, a social media tree-planting campaign has also been launched. The campaign uses the hashtags #ParisAgreement and #Trees4Earth.
Add your name & support to the Interfaith Climate Change Statement to World Leaders
Individuals and Groups:Add your name, along with religious leaders and people of faith from around the world will be handed over by eminent religious leaders to the President of the UN General Assembly, H.E. Mogens Lykketoft of Denmark on 18th April 2016 at an official event in New York.
The Interfaith Climate Change Statement to World Leaders (2016) outlines religious leaders and faith communities positive judgement of the adopted Paris Agreement and urges for its prompt signature and ratification by governments so that it can come into force as soon as possible. It also insists that there is a significant increase in the current levels of ambition relating to emission reductions, financial flows, adaptation, loss and damage and a swift phase out of fossil fuel subsidies – so as to keep temperatures within reach of 1.5C.
The Statement also serves to renew the strong commitment of the faith community to remain active in defining the moral responsibility to care for the Earth and encourages it own communities to reduce emissions and to divest and reinvest in renewables.
Six Key Points within the Interfaith Climate Change Statement:
Urge governments to rapidly sign, ratify and implement the Paris Agreement, and to increase pledges to reduce emissions in line with keeping the global temperature rise to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels;
Insist on rapid emissions reduction and peaking by 2020, in order to keep the 1.5C goal within reach;
Strongly advocate for greater flows of finance, especially for adaptation and loss and damage;
Urge the swift phase out of all fossil fuel subsidies and a transition to 100% renewable energy by 2050;
Encourage faith communities to reduce emissions in their homes, workplaces and centres of worship and to support and stand in solidarity with communities already impacted by climate change; and
Call for fossil fuel divestment and reinvestment in renewables and low carbon solutions, including within our own communities, and/or by engaging companies on climate change.
[14 March 2015, Monday] we, (Emily, Thomas and Jolene) from Malaysia Youth Delegation (MYD) members are grateful and thrilled to be invited to share our Paris COP21 experience in Sustainability Research Network(SRN) Annual Seminar at the University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus (UNMC). The event commenced at 10am and ends at 1pm with more than 50 attendees from UNMC. Other than us, this event was also graced by other featured speakers including Dr. Gary William Theseira, the Deputy Undersecretary of Environment Management and Climate Change Division, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment; as well as Alizan Mahadi, fellow of Institute of Strategic and International Studies Malaysia (ISIS).
Emily
Jolene
As the first speaker of the event, we presented “Youth on COP21” comprising 3 main components covering a lecture-based introduction about Conference of Parties (COP) as a whole and its negotiation processes, a youth-centric topic on our involvement (MYD) and youth participation in COP21; and also our perspective on the Paris Agreement and how it will take effects in the coming years – pre-2020 and post-2020.
Prior to Dr. Gary’s presentation, Dr Gary applauded and thanked MYD presence and supports to Malaysian National Delegation Team in COP21, saying it was “extremely refreshing to have us along”. In COP21, there is always a shortage of manpower for Malaysian team due to its fully-packed meetings that occurred at the same time and consistently MYD team fill in the gaps attending various meetings and discussions across different meeting rooms, plenaries and halls. It is definitely a hectic pace in COP21! Dr. Gary also mentioned the MYD presence (youth) has given the Malaysian team a strong sense of motivation and focus to fight for the future and for us, the future generation. This is their 4th year of working toward common goals with other parties of UNFCCC to combat climate change.
These short yet meaningful acknowledgements coming from a national negotiator are definitely one of the most rewarding moments for MYD 2015 team. Well done, Team!
Afterward, Dr. Gary further elaborated our presentation to Post-COP21 context – on how to translate Intended National Determined Contributions (INDCs) to National Determined Contributions (NDCs) by optimising the local, regional and international opportunities. His sharing has given some great insights of how Malaysia will adopt Paris Agreement and mobilize change. For instance, Malaysia INDCs highlighted Malaysia’s intention “to reduce its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions intensity of GDP by 45% by 2030 relative to the emissions intensity of GDP in 2005. This consist of 35% on an unconditional basis and a further 10% is condition upon receipt of climate finance, technology transfer and capacity building from developed countries.”In addition, he also shared some research areas where government-universities should collaborate including topics such as clean technology developments, environmental conservation, climate change and environmental and climate policies.
On the other hand, Alizan shared with the crowd of how Sustainable Development (SDG) Goals fit the post-COP21 era. The truth is, combating climate change is just a tiny part of SDGs. In his sharing, he encourages everyone to look broader at how a nation could achieve sustainable economic development via considering other factors including poverty eradication, gender equality, good health and wellbeing, zero hunger and many more.
Thomas voicing out his opinion during panel discussion
During the Q&A session, one of the students asked the speakers “if there is one law you can add, what would it be?” Alizan professed politelythat “we should start focusing on the implementation of the existing policies instead of only adding new policies.” Based on his presentation, indeed Malaysia has many existing policies (covering water, land and social..?) but the inefficiency of top-down approaches and the huge gap between the government, public and relevant stakeholders are still taking place and may delay Malaysia achieving its sustainable status.
Feedback on our presentation from the crowd
To date, this is our first official COP21 sharing session and also our first presentation that ran 45-minutes long. We felt the pressure comparing ourselves to the other two “pro” speakers and in order to spice up our presentation, we spent quite some time drafting and practicing the contents together. We are the first speaker…!
It is to our surprise that our session gained so much positive feedbacks from the crowd where one of the audience (hint: he is a lecturer) expresses his gratitude on our excellent presentation! We were complimented for our comprehensible presentation that has provided him a clearer picture on COP21 and its processes. Kudos, our efforts paid off!
Thank you SRN for organizing another successful seminar!
