Before I begin, I’d like to say:

ARE YOU HAPPY??? I’M BLOGGING!!!

(If you are ever involved with CSD, you will find that the only thing scarier than presenting a statement to the chair is facing Cat, Erin, Chloe, or Yochi when you haven’t written a blog yet.)

All right. Let’s get started.

It’s very, very early Wednesday morning, but I’m just getting around to really digesting what happened yesterday, Tuesday, the second day of the 15th Commission on Sustainable Development here at the United Nations in New York City. I’m writing about the second day because, even looking back, the first day was far too confusing to make sense of in my mind, let alone written out for others to see. Using Monday as the oh-my-goodness-what-the-heck-am-I-doing day, however, allowed me to open up Tuesday as being the let’s-try-to-be-productive day. And I definitely think today was productive.

The four major issues that the UN is presently looking at are Energy, Climate Change, Industrial Development, and Air Pollution/Atmosphere. This is also how a lot of discussions for today were organized: parallel sessions on Energy and Air Pollution/Atmosphere in the morning, followed by parallel discussions on Climate Change and Industrial Development. Because I really get into industrial development (I’m not obsessed, but saying I was wouldn’t be entirely inaccurate…), I worked with Caitlin, Bob, Ruthie, and many other members of the youth caucus to frame a statement to read at the afternoon discussion on the topic

With some nudging by Caitlin, I wound up sitting in the big blue leather chair behind the “Youth and Children” sign, set to read our statement. It’s such an official feeling, sitting there on behalf of so many people, citizens of this world. It’s really quite humbling, because you’re representing so very many that truly need a voice. I was about to use mine to explain to the chair the youth’s input on the issue of sustainable industrial development.

I had been making some small talk with the gentleman sitting next to me, who represents indigenous peoples. I suddenly turned to him in a panic, exclaiming, “Can you help me? I don’t know how to turn the microphone on.” He gave me the most wonderfully awkward look before explaining how to push the button, and wait for the light around the microphone to light up. That man, (whose name I have a hard time pronouncing, let alone typing), is now my personal hero, complete with cape and sidekick if he so chooses.

After having a nice freak-out session in my head while the chair called on other major groups to speak their piece, the youth and children group was called. I pushed the button, (being confident now that I knew how the silly thing worked), and began to speak. Slowly, clearly, only messing up once (sort of), and ending with the point that the time had passed for saying that “youth in the future will wonder why no one did anything while they could,” because the youth of today were already asking that now.

The chair thanked me, and my hero-friend of the indigenous peoples patted my arm and said I had done a good job. I’ll take that! It was really the icing on the cake when, after all the statements had been made, the chair went through some of the key points of the overall session, and specifically noted the youth’s stance on making education a key issue in the transition to a sustainable lifestyle. Yay!!

Tomorrow (today, really) is looking just as, if not more promising than yesterday, Between meetings with the youth caucus and the NGO groups, presenting statements and doing some major networking, I think this delegation will really be able to get the youth voice out there, not only into the heads of the delegates, but also in the words of the policies.

J

Lindsay Baker

Today was my first day at CSD 15. It was my first time at the UN, and the experience went beyond my expectations. I had never seen such a diverse group of people in one place before. What impressed me the most was how so many different people from so many different nationalities and backgrounds could interact and work together.

In the morning I attended the plenary on Energy, which was not my area, so I thought it went by quite uneventfully. I don't think OPEC spoke at this plenary, which disappointed me, as their delegation was sitting just a few seats away from the youth delegation. I left early with some of the other delegates because we had a meeting with one of SustainUS' directors. 

 After lunch I went to a side-conference on sustainable development in post-conflict nations, hosted by Serbia. It was a humbling experience, because I was in a room with a diverse group of high-level representatives. The Serbian representative was the secretary of the Serbian office of sustainable development, and he worked directly with the deputy Prime Minister. There were also delegates from France, USA, Afghanistan, South Africa, Canada, Turkey and Senegal.

After the Serbian conference, I attended the Industrial Development Plenary, which was the area I worked on with my SustainUS group, and the area I was the most interested in since I'm interested in economic development and corporate social responsibility. I found this plenary to be more interesting then the one on Energy because I understood a good portion of what everyone was talking about, and the goals the delegates presented were close to what my SustainUS group came up with. My group even got to present our statement near the end :D

Bob Ma 

After lengthy preparation, our delegation of 22 high schoolers, college students, and young professionals have begun their fist day as representatives of American (and US-based) youth at the 15th session of the Commission on Sustainable Development. This morning, the Youth and Children had the floor during the session's interactive discussion with the major groups. We stressed the importance of measurable outcomes and implementation. The delegates will spend the afternoon meeting with various delegates and attending side events. Stay tuned for pictures from the CSD Youth Energy Blast (which was GREAT - thanks to all who came!), as well as this morning's plenary!

 Update:  Click here to read the statement given by Olubola this morning on behalf of the Youth and Children. And also be sure to check out the  SustainUS Policy document the AoC delegates have prepared. We'll be using this as a reference point throughout the two weeks in our discussions with representatives from governments and other organizations.

As my train came close to 30th Street Station yesterday, I saw the familiar skyline of Philadelphia.  I couldn't help smiling.  I've been away almost two weeks.  In a few months I will probably be leaving Philadelphia again, to start a job (or join the ranks of the youth unemployed).  The theme of the CSocD (Full Employment and Decent Work for All) is relavant for me as I search for a job with an environmental organization that doesn't only want someone with 5 years of experience or a science degree.  (if anyone reading this can offer me a job, please do )

At the same time I did have a hard time thinking about all the US youth who could not come to the Commission, the at-risk youth, youth who live in poverty, youth who work two or three jobs just to get by.  Further, the youth from other areas of the world, indigenous youth, etc. who can't just jump up and come to NYC.  I hope that the attendees at CSocD saw beyond SustainUS to other youth, ones in the United States, and also outside.

Here's to another random thought on the SustainUS blog,

Your's in Sustainability,

 Julia