Why is climate change important to you? Why are you at the COP?
I graduated from University of Nottingham in Malaysia with a degree in Environmental Sciences. I started my interest in climate change by getting involved with local NGOs, youth organizations, school projects, and volunteer programs in my country. I am really interested in seeing how science interacts with policy in dealing the problem of climate change. As a youth representative of my country, I believe youth is an important part in getting involved with climate solutions, and I am hoping to see the impact of youth in dealing with climate issues.
– Jasmin Irisha Jim Ilham (left)
I am a fourth year student at [the] University of Nottingham in Malaysia, but I am originally from Sri Lanka. What got me into climate change was that my parents were naturalists–my mother was a bird watcher–and I grew up being influenced by them. Currently, I am conducting research on the relationship among elephants, humans, and climate change in Malaysia and Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka has the densest population of elephants. In certain areas in Sri Lanka, there are more elephants than humans. Because of the big flood in Sri Lanka last year, elephants started coming to villages near their natural habitats and competing resources with humans, which became a huge problem in my country as a result of climate change.
– Dulanga Witharanage (right)
by Jennnie Sun http://climate.emorydomains.org/cop22/humans-of-cop22-youth-delegates-from-malaysia/
GETTING HEARD: Two students share what they learnt at climate change conference
HOW we take care of the environment determines the state of our lives on this planet in the future.
For the young, it is especially important to take note of this and participate in ensuring a sustainable future for all, enthused Jasmin Irisha Jim Ilham, 22, and Dulanga Witharanage, 23.
Fresh from being part of the Malaysian Youth Delegation 2016 (MYD 2016) at the 22nd Conference of the Parties (COP22), United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Marrakech, Morocco last month, the recent Environmental Science graduate and the final-year BSc (Hons) degree in Environmental Science student from the University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus (UNMC), respectively, have ambitions to help amplify the voice of youth movements in climate change through education and mobilisation in the country.
“People know little about climate change and that it is a huge problem. Climate change is a large-scale, long-term shift in the planet’s weather patterns or average temperatures due to greenhouse gas emissions among others and impacts all aspects of life. So, there is a need to create a greater awareness among youths and rev up capacity building in this area,” said Dulanga.
“It is important that youths’ voices are heard on issues in this area. If you have interest in passion about community, society and climate change, there are a lot of platforms to work from and a lot of opportunities to be involved in activities that address climate change,” said Jasmin.
COP22 provided an important platform for nations to build on the landmark Paris Agreement (CMA 1) agreement secured at the COP21 in Paris last December. The Conference successfully demonstrated to the world that the implementation of the Paris Agreement is underway and the constructive spirit of multilateral cooperation on climate change continues.
As representatives of MYD, Jasmin and Dulanga observed the negotiation process at the conference whilst shadowing the Malaysian negotiators alongside three other youth delegates from Malaysia. They also took part at the Conference of Youth 12 (COY12) from Nov 4 to 6 where they joined youths from across the globe to address climate change and promote sustainable lifestyles. The main focus of this year’s COY is on the “Role of Education and Empowering Youth to take action on Climate Change and to bring about Positive Change in Society”.
Jasmin, who hails from Ampang in Selangor, and Dulanga, who is from Colombo, Sri Lanka, started their journey to COP22 six months earlier when they took part in a rigorous application process that required shortlisted MYD applicants to go through an interview session, where they were questioned deep into their understanding and knowledge of climate change, the Paris Agreement and UNFCCC. Applicants were shortlisted taking into consideration their academic merits and achievements, as well as their contributions towards community and environmental initiatives.
With a background of being actively involved in various environmental-related initiatives, her most recent being UNMC Bicycle Project, of which she also founded the UNMC Cycling Club, and alumna of the East-West Center, Hawaii where she earned her Certificate in Institute on Environment under the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) programme, Jasmin made the cut.
As did Dulanga who interned with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and Wetlands International while following her degree in Malaysia. Dulanga viewed being a part of MYD 2016 as an opportunity to voice her ideas for Malaysia.
Upon being selected, Jasmin and Dulanga underwent five training series, two international knowledge transfer events, a Youth Statement, numerous engagements with organisations, stakeholders and the government to be prepared for the conference.
“At COP22, when going about our tasks we took seriously that we represented youth in Malaysia. We took the information that we gathered and shared it online with peers and people in Malaysia,” said Dulanga.
“We also got involved in the Malaysia Pavilion — a physical platform for Malaysia to showcase the country’s initiatives related to environment and climate change — and as a place to host presentations, dialogues and meetings with national delegates or guests,” Jasmin shared.
Now that they are back in Malaysia, the work does not stop for Dulanga and Jasmin. Together with the MYD group, they will be working on organising a Post-COP22 Forum next month.
“We need to work together more as Malaysians. To address things globally, we have to act locally. We need a collaborative effort involving the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, NGOs, youth, businesses to handle climate change issues. Stress on sustainable capacity building and with follow-through, we have more potential to harness in our country,” said Jasmin.
“At COP22, I saw how developed countries invest in youths and capacity building. Our governments and people need to be more interested in climate change. There’s a lot that we have to do,” said Dulanga.
COP23 is the 23nd 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.
COP23will be held from November 6-17, 2017, in Bonn, Germany.
The Malaysian Youth Delegation (MYD) is the voice of the Malaysian youth climate movement at Conference of Parties (COP), more formally “the United Nations Climate Change Conference. We strike to represent the demands of a generation working and to advocate for a just, safe, and livable future for all.
Prior to COP23, delegates are expected to undergo trainings and perform other operational work. Our trainings will cover the 3 primary tracks of MYD: Advocacy, Media and Mobilisation
Advocacy:
tracking policy development and advocacy aspects of the UNFCCC and Malaysia climate change scene;
support MYD strategic policy engagements through lobbying and other associated efforts;
produce policy commentary or knowledge articles which also act as educating tool to the public
Media:
maintain our online social media and website presence;
craft MYD newsletter during COP;
pitch delegation stories to larger media outlets;
write press release and articles to disseminate climate-related information to educate the public;
track media hits
Mobilisation:
Interact and collaborate with youth from other organisation and nations to plan actions in the UNFCCC space;
coordinate with other action planning hubs
What if climate change is not just about the climate?
Other potential responsibilities on our team include fundraising, logistical support, identifying and facilitating coordination opportunities with other youth-focused groups, leading on artistic elements of action, and more! There is a TON of flexibility in how you use this space.
Delegates will also be constantly producing knowledge articles based on the above tracks, and will be published on PowerShift Malaysia website as part of the training. 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.
We are open to new and creative ideas on how our delegation can most effectively push for the world we need.
What will MYD 2017 program look like?
Month
Agenda
March
Recruitment
April
Retreat
COP crash course #1
MYD buddies experience sharing + understanding youth role in YOUNGO
May
Parliament visit
June
Understanding Malaysia Constituency
Engagement with CSO and Ministry of Natural Resources & Environment (NRE)
Updates from Bonn Intersectional
July
COP crash course #2
Understanding Malaysia Climate Change Policies + National Determined Contribution (NDC)
Understanding Media/Campaigning/Journalism in Climate Change
August
Understanding Politic, Economics and Climate Change
COP Stimulation
September
Training series to be suggested by MYD17 member
Training series to be suggested by MYD17 member
October
Pre COP Briefing
Re-Engagement with CSO and Ministry of Natural Resources & Environment (NRE)
November
COP23
December
Post COP Forum
*all agenda listed above are subjected to change
What are we going to do in COP23?
We are 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, together with youth/people coming from different countries in the world.
You will also be the youth representative of Malaysia to introduce Malaysia’s condition and having the chance to learn A LOT more about the climate change issue in terms of a global perspective.
We welcome any Malaysian youths (age 18-30 by 1st Nov 2017) 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!
How does the commitment looks like?
Delegates are expected to begin work once the MYD 2017 team is formed. Delegates are expected to commit ~6 hours per week on preparations for COP23 from April 2017 onward. 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.
Additionally, if you are accepted to the delegation, that does not automatically qualified you to attend COP23. We will eventually select the final COP23 delegation based on your commitment level throughout the pre-COP period.
Note that your commitment will fluctuate depending on your role in the team.
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. We 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.
Additionally, if you are accepted to the delegation, that does not automatically qualified you to attend COP23. We will eventually select the final COP23 delegation based on your commitment level throughout the pre-COP period.
So, what should i do now?
Tunggu apa lagi(wait no more) ?! Join MYD je laaaa.
What i need to do after i send in my application form?
Please take note that your application will ONLY be processed after we receive the requested Creative/Writing component from you as part of the application criteria. Kindly send to powershiftmsia@gmail.com latest by 31 March 2017 23:59 GMT8+.
Kindly email us at powershiftmsia@gmail.com if you have not receive any reply from us after your submission.
First round of interview will be out by 20th March and you will be informed regardless of being shortlisted or not. Applicants will then be called for an online screening interview.
What is next ?
All applicants will be invited to join our annual MYD retreat which will fall on 15th to 16th April 2017. Attendance are highly encourage.
You will go through an overview of what to expect throughout the commitment period, capacity building as well as team building sessions. You will also get the chance to interact with alumni members through experience sharing which is essential to ensure transfer of knowledge. Minimum charge will be borne by the applicants
YES, climate change is happening when you are reading this post. AND WE NEED YOU
Malaysian Youth Delegation (MYD) is recruiting for our 2017 intake to the COP23, this year at Bonn, Germany – the Headquarters of United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
Are you excited yet? 😀 (We are!)
*Alternatively, you can click HERE for the application
Application deadline: 31 March, 11:59p.m. GMT8+
For those who missed the best part, here’s a basic explanation of what we do and why YOU are important to be part of this movement, in 5 minutes or less.
Click here and here to see what other past MYD members/partners said about their experiences with us.
You can also find a collection of articles from MYD2016 and MYD2015 here to have a sneak peek on what we do in the past. Alternatively, if you are sooo keen and sooo into reading more about us, you may search “MYD” on our website to find out the comprehensive list of MYD articles!
Lastly, feel free to contact us atpowershiftmsia@gmail.com or +6016-3376768 if you want to know more about MYD.
The Malaysian Youth Delegation (MYD) is the voice of the Malaysian youth climate movement at Conference of Parties (COP), more formally “the United Nations Climate Change Conference. Made up of dedicated and inspiring youth leaders from across the country, the delegation represents the demands of a generation working to create a just, safe, and livable future for all.
MYD objectives are to:
Represent youth climate movement in Malaysia
Educate Malaysians on UNFCCC and Malaysian climate policy
Hold our leaders accountable for the promises and actions responsible for climate change
Act in solidarity with frontline communities for those suffering the effects of climate change in Malaysia and across the globe
Erm … what is COP?
COPs are yearly conferences held in the framework of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). They serve as the supreme decision-making body of the Convention to assess progress in dealing with climate change
This year, COP will be held at its “home base” in Bonn, Germany from 6-17 November 2017.
The Paris Agreement was adopted on 12th December 2015 and entered into force on 4 November 2016. The whole process took less than one year. This shows that the world as a whole agreed on a path forward, a path to keep warming well below 2 degrees Celsius, and for the first time to pursue efforts to limit temperature increases to 1.5 degrees C.
Thus, YOUth involvement is vital to reshape this process in a way that meets the needs of our communities, and our planet when our future is being negotiated!
The delegation will be facing many challenges within and outside of the UN framework. We’re looking for excited, talented, inspiring young people to join us this year. Our focus will be in growing real change, both at COP and beyond.
The structure of the programme and delegation will be in three primary tracks: Advocacy, Media and Mobilisation. Here are a few examples of what you might do as a delegate within each of these tracks:
Advocacy:
tracking policy development and advocacy aspects of the UNFCCC and Malaysia climate change scene;
support MYD strategic policy engagements through lobbying and other associated efforts;
produce policy commentary or knowledge articles which also act as educating tool to the public
Media:
maintain our online social media and website presence;
craft MYD newsletter during COP;
pitch delegation stories to larger media outlets;
write press release;
track media hits
Mobilisation:
plan actions in the UNFCCC space;
coordinate with other action planning hubs
Other potential responsibilities on our team include fundraising, logistical support, identifying and facilitating coordination opportunities with other youth-focused groups, leading on artistic elements of action, and more! There is a TON of flexibility in how you use this space. We are open to new and creative ideas on how our delegation can most effectively push for the world we need.
(Spoiler ahead. If you want to know more, please continue to read. Don’t say we didn’t warn you)
What MYD will do ?
Throughout the year, we will be organising training series which the topics will be on UNFCCC and related to Malaysia climate policy and also engagement activities
The tentative agenda are as below.
Month
Agenda
March
Recruitment
April
Retreat
COP crash course #1
MYD buddies experience sharing + understanding youth role in YOUNGO
May
Parliament visit
June
Understanding Malaysia Constituency
Engagement with CSO and Ministry of Natural Resources & Environment (NRE)
Updates from Bonn Intersectional
July
COP crash course #2
Understanding Malaysia Climate Change Policies + National Determined Contribution (NDC)
Understanding Media/Campaigning/Journalism in Climate Change
August
Understanding Politic, Economics and Climate Change
COP Stimulation
September
Training series to be suggested by MYD17 member
Training series to be suggested by MYD17 member
October
Pre COP Briefing
Re-Engagement with CSO and Ministry of Natural Resources & Environment (NRE)
November
COP23
December
Post COP Forum
*all agenda listed above are subjected to change
MYD moments of impact
MYD2015 @ COP21
MYD2016 @ COP22
A tired day at the negotiation
Youth action @ COP22
Light moment with Malaysian Negotiator and CSO during COP
MYD member giving intervention at COP21
Post COP22 Forum
MYD member voicing out on youth participation and the post-Marrakech scenario
(Take a deep breath, MAJOR SPOILER below)
Application is opening real SOON and we need you!
We always believe YOU-th are the solution. We are opening our application for Malaysian Youth Delegation (MYD) to this year’s COP23, @ Bonn, Germany! STAY TUNED
All applicants will be called for an online screening interview. Then, we will be hosting an in-person retreat for all applicants, which will be held on the weekend of 8th & 9th April (tentative). Location is yet to be determined. The applicants only will be selected and notified one week after the retreat.
Throughout the entire COP23 journey, the delegation 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.
New delegate applications are starting from 6th March 2017, Monday
COP22, also known as the COP of action as articulated by Patricia Espinosa, Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), was said to pave the way and adopt practical means of implementation to the Paris Agreement. The forum will discuss the key contentious issues that arise at COP22 in regards to implementing the Agreement.
Dr Gary Theseira, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment – Deputy Undersecretary of Environment Management and Climate Change Division Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. He is responsible for policy analysis, development and support for environment management and climate change and sustainable development.
Ms Meena Raman, Third World Network – Senior Legal Advisor to the Third World Network and coordinator of its Climate Change Programme. She has written many papers and articles on environment and development issues, especially on climate change and the negotiations in the UNFCCC. She has also has taken part in numerous national and international seminars and conferences and has presented papers on a wide range of issues, including sustainable development and environmental protection, agriculture and food, climate change, globalisation and trade. The meetings include the UN Rio Plus 20 Summit (2012), the World Trade Organisation Ministerial conferences, and the UNFCCC Conference of Parties. She also served as the Active Observer to the Board of the Green Climate Fund, representing civil society organisations from developing countries.
Ms Ivy Wong Abdullah, Yayasan Hasanah – leads the environment pillar at Yayasan Hasanah. She develops conservation priorities and strategies, formulates partnerships, and enhances collaboration with partners to protect Malaysia’s natural capital and build environmental consciousness.
Mr Nithi Nesadurai, Malaysia Climate Change Group – President of the Environmental Protection Society Malaysia (EPSM). He represents EPSM in the Malaysian Climate Change Group, a coalition of NGOs involved in climate change. He attended the annual United Nations Conference of Parties (COP) on climate change from 2000-2009, and more recently in November 2016. Between 2001 and 2009 he served as Editor of ECO, the daily news bulletin of the Climate Action Network at these COPs. In 2007 Nithi delivered the presentation on ‘Climate Change and Poverty Reduction’ to Commonwealth Finance Ministers at their meeting in Guyana. In 2010, Nithi conducted the 10-year review of the Malaysian Government’s performance on Millennium Development Goal (MDG) 7, entitled Ensure Environmental Sustainability, as a Consultant commissioned by the United Nations.
Come along and bring friends to show support for the vital issue of tackling climate change!
#MYD – Malaysian Youth Delegation – Malaysian youth climate movement at international United Nations climate conferences, UNFCCC, participants will be mentored and hold engagements with various climate expert bodies and dialogue with Malaysian policy makers and negotiators.
