Two University students have been selected to represent Louisiana at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Cancun, Mexico, from Nov. 29 to Dec. 10.
Matt Wyatt, natural resource conservation junior, and Katherine Boy Skipsey, mass communication junior, were nominated by the former president of the University’s Environmental Conservation Organization, or ECO, and selected to attend the conference after a series of interviews.
The Sierra Student Coalition, the student-run branch of the national environmental organization, will send 18 members from across the U.S. to join about 2,000 youth from around the world in an effort to “pressure political leadership to adopt a fair, ambitious and legally binding climate treaty,” according to an Oct. 3 news release.
As the only two delegates from Louisiana, Skipsey said the pair hopes to bring the perspective of the state to others.
“We will bring Louisiana’s examples of human-made disasters and the consequences of heavy dependence on dirty sources of energy,” Skipsey said. “We want to talk about global warming’s economical and social impacts in Louisiana.”
Wyatt said they will share a “special narrative” of what Louisiana has seen and how the state has been affected.
“It is a conversation that is happening but is not including enough voices for Louisiana,” Wyatt said. “We want to reach out to as many people as possible and see that negotiations actually happen.”
Wyatt said it is important to show leaders that youth from around the world are coming together to make a difference.
“I hope to show leaders we are united, and they should follow the example,” Wyatt said. “I hope to gain a sense of solidarity with other nations and youth.”
Wyatt said a conference for the youth to unite will be held a few days before UNFCCC begins. He said the gathering will give youth the opportunity to come together and formalize a plan of action.
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Contact Sydni Dunn at [email protected]
University students selected to attend UN climate convention
November 16, 2010