Environmental Audit CommitteeWritten evidence submitted by the British Youth Council
1. Summary
1.1 The British Youth Council (BYC) supported young people’s participation in the Rio+20 process and led a post-Rio review meeting with young participants.
1.2 It was acknowledged that the UK Government were open to dialogue and engaged in efforts to listen to young people. However, on the whole, young people were disappointed with the UK government’s actions before and during the Rio+20 conference and felt that not enough was done to ensure their effective participation in the decision making process, and that awareness, information and education on the summit was low.
1.3 In order to maximise the outcomes of Rio+20 and to improve participation in future events we strongly recommend:
1.3.1
1.3.2 DEFRA should establish formal links with youth-led and youth focused organisations similar to existing channels with wider civil society.
1.3.3
1.3.4
1.3.5
1.3.6
Introduction
2. The British Youth Council
2.1 BYC is the national youth council of the UK. We aim to empower young people aged 25 and under to have a say and be heard. We help them participate in decisions that affect them; have a voice and campaign on issues they believe in, inspire them to have a positive impact, and gain recognition for their positive contribution to communities, society and the world.
2.2 We our governed entirely by young people with a board of 13 Trustees, all of whom are 25 or under. The Board is elected by young people from our membership organisations which includes over 250 local youth councils, national youth organisations such as NUS, Scouts and others, and a wide range specialist youth organisations, including faith, diaspora and disability groups, campaigns and youth-led networks. We also manage the UK Youth Parliament and the Young Mayors Network.
3. BYC & Rio+20
3.1 The British Youth Council had an informal role in supporting young people’s participation in the Rio+20 process through:
Hosting the “London+20” youth event which helped to define the UK youth positions and priorities in advance of Rio+20. (25 young people)
Co-organising a learning and sharing event with DEFRA, UNICEF and the Science Museum in June 2012.The event was attended by the Secretary of State for the Environment at the time, Caroline Spelman MP, and 30 young people from across London. (40 young people)
Supporting communication and collaboration between youth delegates at the Rio event itself.
Organising a post-Rio+20 evaluation meeting with Stakeholder Forum, the UK Youth Climate Coalition, Peace Child International, Children’s Helpers Worldwide, International Federation of Medical Student Associations and BYC Trustees. (seven young participants from Rio+20)
3.2 This submission is based on our experience throughout the Rio+20 process, our conversations with young participants before, during and after the event, and the specific review consultation with key stakeholders.
3.3 This is not a joint submission and remains solely a British Youth Council document.
Submission
4. The role played by the UK Government in the run up to, and during, the Summit.
4.1 It was acknowledged that the UK Government were open to dialogue and engaged in efforts to listen to young people. However, on the whole, young people were disappointed with the UK government’s actions before and during the Rio+20 conference and felt that not enough was done to ensure their effective participation in the decision making process, and that awareness, information and education on the summit was low.
Youth delegates
4.2 A youth delegate is a young person that is given formal negotiator accreditation as part of the UK team. Youth delegates are the voice of young people and can play an unprecedented role in influencing a country’s official position and can be instrumental in supporting and developing an approach to the negotiations that places the interests of youth as a built in part of their government’s discussions.
4.3 For (and with) young people, they are the conduit for information and lobbying and offer young people a platform for engaging and participating in the negotiations in a way that is meaningful and respected. They can be inspiring and motivating for young people and help translate complicated policy language into something accessible and relevant to people’s daily lives.
4.4 With varying degrees of access and influence, the following countries formally accredited a young person as part of their official delegation: African Union, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Japan, Kenya, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, Rwanda, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, USA.
4.5 Young people in the UK repeatedly called for DEFRA and the Secretary of State to follow suit and appoint an official youth delegate as part of the delegation to Rio+20 but were unsuccessful.
4.6 We see this as a vital requirement for future negotiations through the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UN-CSD) and in similar processes such as the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). A country that extends an accredited negotiator badge to their country’s youth are recognising the important contribution young people can make in these negotiations as well as displaying a clear commitment to future generations, embracing the need for intergenerational equity and the moral (as well as human right) requirement to involve young people in decision making that affects their lives.
Formal youth engagement structures
4.7 In order to participate effectively, young people, youth-led organisations and youth-centred organisations needed to be involved in stakeholder dialogues and communications.
4.8 Stakeholder Forum held regular meetings with civil society organisations and DEFRA officials, with the Secretary of State also attending on a number of occasions. Many youth-centered organisations did not know about these meetings and with many of them taking place in New York around the fringes of Rio+20 informal negotiations, it would have been challenging for many small youth organisations to attend.
4.9 We would like to see formal engagement processes established between DEFRA and youth organisations in the UK. Other government departments have set existing precedents, for example DFID is connected via the DFID/Civil Society Organisations Youth Working Group, and DECC had previously supported a Youth Advisory Panel which was consulted on issues, particularly ahead of COP negotiations.
4.10 We would like to see similar engagement with DEFRA to support young people’s voice and influence in policy making. The British Youth Council would be happy to facilitate this process, including through our National Scrutiny Group. This group consists of 14 elected young people that work with Government departments and Ministers to seek the views on the content and implementation of their polices, thereby enabling them to make more informed decisions.
4.11 A formal consultation with young people would have helped promote the summit and supported young people’s engagement. Other European countries held formal consultations with their country’s youth and we would have liked to have seen a similar commitment in the UK. This would have given a clear mandate to the government from the UK’s youth.
4.12 Many young people did take part in the Rio+20 through national and international civil society organisations and through the formal Major Group for Children and Youth as part of the formal Rio+20 process.
4.13 We welcome the meeting held between the Secretary of State and UK youth in Rio. Informal dialogue opportunities are valuable for both sides to be able to speak openly and for young people to raise issues and ask questions on the negotiations. However, in order to maximize these opportunities they need to be organised in advance to enable more young people from to be involved and to give them enough time to prepare properly.
4.14 Young people in the UK had also campaigned for the Prime Minister to attend the summit and were left feeling that it “was not a priority” when the Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State attended instead.
Knowledge, education and capacity
4.15 Awareness and knowledge of Rio+20 in the UK was low and coverage of the summit through the British media was niche and limited. This led to many people—including many youth—being unaware of the summit and unable to participate effectively.
4.16 Young people reported seeing no information or publication aimed at young people informing them of the summit. Though we recognise that this is not the sole responsibility of the Government, and that international summits are becoming increasingly frequent, this was only the second Conference on Sustainable Development attended by world leaders—20 years after the first—and was a major global event.
4.17 Education, information and promotion is needed to equip young people with the knowledge to engage. The participation of children and young people is one of the articles in Agenda 21 and the UK government has a responsibility to ensure knowledge and education is sufficient for meaningful engagement. The Brazilian Government required all schools in the country to run a lesson on the conference and its significance.
4.18 Events, such as the one in the Science Museum, were positive and enabled young people to learn more about Rio+20, set their priorities for action and pass these directly to the Secretary of State. BYC hugely welcome and support this. We would like to have seen this opportunity extended to many more young people and for adequate planning and promotion time to have been given. The event also fell in early June—the start of GCSE and A/AS Level examinations—and many young people were unable to attend.
4.19 Those young people who were informed about the Rio+20 process did so through the Major Group for Children and Youth and through events such as “London+20” held before the summit.
5. How well the Rio declaration — “The Future We Want” — matched the actions that were needed
5.1 Sadly, the majority of young people we talked to after the event had negative opinions on the outcomes of Rio+20 and described the process as “frustrating” and “disappointing”.
5.2 Many of the young people, despite being highly engaged, were unaware of the specific impact of what was achieved and not achieved at Rio+20. Subsequently, they felt that wider groups of young people with little or no involvement in the Rio+20 process would be unaware of the outcomes and their impact with little information being shared and promoted.
5.3 Some of the key issues that young people had called for ahead and during the Rio+20 summit were:
Renewed political commitment.
Non-formal education on sustainable development.
Ombudsman for Future Generations and a High Commissioner for Future Generations.
Sustainable Development Goals.
Beyond GDP/Happiness index.
End to fossil fuel subsidies.
Enhanced power of UNEP.
Green jobs to reduce youth unemployment.
Green skills and training.
Recognition of planetary boundaries.
UN Council on Sustainable Development.
Access to clean water.
Youth delegates.
5.4 Young people at our consultation event were asked to note down the outcomes that youth had been hoping for. They were then asked to colour code them based on the level of success they felt these had been achieved at Rio+20.
Red indicates the outcome wasn’t achieved.
Orange indicates the outcome was achieved to a degree but not fully as hoped.
Green means the outcome was achieved as hoped.
|
Red |
Orange |
Green |
|
Reproductive & Sexual rights |
Environmental Rights |
Council on Sustainable Development |
|
Conflict & peace |
Gender |
Public participation |
|
Green skills and training |
Public Participation |
Sustainable cities |
|
Youth Participation/youth delegates |
Upgrading of UNEP |
Sustainable Development Goals |
|
Ombudsman for Future Generations |
Sustainable development education |
|
|
Knowledge sharing and technology |
Ombudsman for Future Generations |
|
|
Renewed political commitment |
Fossil fuel subsidies |
|
|
Global strategy on green jobs |
5.5 Many of the key issues were coded either red or orange indicating no or limited success. Only 4 out of 18 were coded green. Though unscientific in its nature, it does suggest that young people feel the outcomes of Rio+20 have not committed to the asks of young people.
5.6 Because there was no youth consultation in the UK ahead of Rio+20 there are no formal baselines or initial priorities in which to measure the outcomes of the conference against. The anecdotal and informal opinions of young people are, at this stage, the only measure of success we have. However, the vast number of issues which young people wanted to see actioned at the summit have failed to be realised and this is clear from the outcome document as well as through our consultation.
5.7 It is difficult for young people to assess the commitments made at Rio+20 as success depends on the actions that follow both on outcomes that young people see as positive developments and where action in the text is limited or non-existent.
5.8 Many young people felt that the outcomes had provided something to move forward with.
5.9 “[The outcomes are] something to work with. Not much, but something.”
5.10 We would specifically welcome a response from the new Minister to young people and an agreement to meet with young people who attended the consultation event hosted at the Science Museum ahead of the summit. This would provide an opportunity for young people to understand better the outcomes and for the Minister to be held to account by young people to areas deemed unsuccessful.
6. How well the UK Government’s policies and initiatives match the commitments and calls-for-action set out in “The Future We Want” declaration, the areas in which the Government has more to do, and where the Government’s priorities should lie.
6.1 Young people felt that it was too early to properly assess the success of Rio+20 given the short time that has passed since the conference.
Young people felt that it was difficult to prioritise actions because of the urgent necessity for them all to be achieved.
6.2 In our consultation session, young people were asked to rank the major headings from “The Future We Want” document. Young people said their priorities for the UK government were:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
6.3 They were clear that this reflected what the UK government needed to do and not a ranking of the issues. Climate change was put last because it was felt the UK government already has progressive and proactive legislation dealing with the issue.
6.4 The top priorities for youth were:
Sustainable Development Goals.
Poverty eradication.
Employment.
Green jobs, education, skills and training.
6.5 Sustainable Development Goals were seen as an urgent priority as they encompassed all of the other issues and provide an opportunity where the UK can have large, immediate influence. It was felt that the UK should consider the impact of SDGs on the UK given their universality. The Prime Minister’s international role as co-chairman of the “High-level Panel of Eminent Persons to advise on planning for post-2015” will be hugely important in setting the agenda and shaping the next global development framework, but the UK can also play a leading role in sustainable development in the UK.
6.6 It is also a very difficult time to be young and living in the UK. Although falling, youth unemployment is over one million, university fees have tripled, housing benefit has been cut for under 25s and the Educational Maintenance Allowance has been abolished.
6.7 Young people felt that employment and green skills were vital for providing immediate opportunities to earn a living and equip them for the future. The Government should take action to:
Provide employment opportunities through the creation of greens job in new industries and the greening of existing industries and sectors. This would provide immediate relief to unemployed youth and support their economic wellbeing.
Prepare future generations and workforces for the future employment landscape by providing training, education and skills programmes on green technology, innovations and industries. This would secure the UK’s long-term economic development as well as supporting the transition to a sustainable world.
6.8 Young people felt that the UK government was not doing enough to support young people into employment and that this should be addressed as a matter of urgency. Green jobs has the ability to provide decent, well paid long term jobs, green existing industries, provide a sustainable economy, support innovation in new technology, tackle inequalities and poverty, reduce carbon emissions and protect the environment.
6.9 Young people saw this directly linking to the eradication of poverty in the UK where 33% of children live in relative poverty. It would also promote social wellbeing and happiness through economic fulfillment.
6.10 Given the urgency of the environmental, economic and development crisis, a rapid transition to a sustainable world is needed. While young people prioritised the issues, it was clear that a holistic approach is needed and that the issues could not be isolated and dealt with independent of the others. The interconnection of the issues means they need to be addressed simultaneously. A multi-lens approach is needed and the government must formulate policy by recognising the interdependence of actions needed on sustainable development.
7. What role the UK Government should now play internationally in taking forward the Rio agenda, including on the Sustainable Development Goals and through the Prime Minister’s co-chairmanship of the UN Secretary-General’s “High-level Panel of Eminent Persons to advise on planning for post-2015”.
7.1 Young people hugely welcome the Prime Minister’s co-chairmanship of the “High-level Panel of Eminent Persons to advise on planning for post-2015” and see it as a positive opportunity to have their voice heard and influence the post-2015 global development agenda.
7.2 Young people felt that David Cameron’s involvement presented a number of opportunities for youth participation and engagement to be taken seriously and that the time frame offered amble time for consultation. They hoped the UK would facilitate an open process and hold a national consultation on the post-2015 agenda. Though the UK is not one of the 50 countries sponsored by the UN to hold a consultation, we see the UK’s position as unique an urge the UK government to make every effort to involve young people and civil society during this process.
7.3 More widely, young people also demonstrate a high level of awareness and concern for global development issues. An opinion poll by YouGov for the International Broadcasting Trust of 14—20 year-olds explored global development issues. When asked about their own level of knowledge about global poverty and the lives of those living in developing countries, the majority (67%) claimed to be very or fairly concerned about levels of poverty in poor countries.
7.4 Young people are hopeful about the opportunities and role that the UK government could play in the post-2015 debate. It is important that the UK “learn the lessons” from Rio+20 and provide a better, more meaningful platform for young people to engage. Youth were repeatedly mentioned through Rio+20 and will be vital in the successful achievement of both the current MDGs and the SDGs that follow them.
7.5 Young people feel that information is going to be more important during this time due to the large number of international conferences taking place over the next three years. Young people particularly felt that the stakes were high and that the Government must use its good reputation in terms of international development to exert influence on the world stage and facilitate a single track, ambitious framework for global development post-2015.
8. What part greater informed public debate and wider engagement with the Rio issues needs to play.
8.1 This area of discussion has been mentioned throughout this submission and young people’s engagement in, and during, international summits needs to be improved to ensure their participation is meaningful and impactful.
8.2 The low level of debate, awareness and knowledge of Rio+20 has demonstrated that issues of global importance are not necessarily prioritised that highly domestically—particularly in the media. The issues negotiated at Rio+20, be they energy, climate change, green jobs, economic growth, poverty eradication and global development are of vital importance to young people’s lives in the UK and the negotiations will have a direct impact on their futures. Much greater emphasis needs to be placed on a wide and informed public debate to ensure issues receive the attention and input they require.
9. Concluding Remarks
9.1 Young people’s participation in Rio+20 was low and this was exacerbated by the little awareness and information provided by the Government in the run up to the summit. Informal communication, a lack of structured channels for youth engagement and no sizable youth consultation has resulted in the youth voice being limited.
9.2 Young people are very supportive of the Prime Minister’s international role in the formation of a post-2015 development framework and call upon the Government to maximise youth and civil society inclusion. Sustainable Development Goals could be a valuable framework but must recognise the holistic approach needed for government, NGOs and international agencies to fulfill them.
Young people feel strongly that there is an unemployment crisis in the UK and that this needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency. Green jobs need to form part of this to provide sustainable livelihoods for young people now and future generations.
9.3 The lessons and missed opportunities from Rio+20 need to be addressed and remedied for future international summits. Best practice of engagement should be shared across Government departments with DEFRA specically looking at DECC and DfID for guidance. Young people need to play an integral part of future development frameworks both globally and nationally and be supported in the UK’s transition to a sustainable economy.
10. Recommendations
10.1 In order to maximise the outcomes of Rio+20 and to improve participation in future events we strongly recommend:
10.1.1
10.1.2
10.1.3
10.1.4
10.1.5
10.1.6
24 September 2012