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UWC Dilijan and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Armenia co-hosted the Local Conference of Youth (LCOY) Armenia ahead of COP 29 on the theme “Climate Justice: What It Means in the World and in Armenia”.
It is the second year in a row that UWC Dilijan qualified to hold this conference. Initiated by a group of UWCD students committed to contributing to solving urgent environmental and sustainability issues, LCOY Armenia was attended by approximately 140 participants aged 14-18 from over 20 schools. They represented Yerevan, Gyumri, Vanadzor, Ijevan, Dilijan and other places. Among the special guests were representatives of the Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Armenia.
LCOY serves as a platform for youth to engage in a meaningful dialogue on climate justice, empowering them to take action and advocate for a sustainable future in Armenia and beyond in the context of how climate action affects those who are especially vulnerable to climate change implications. The conference opened with remarks from Adam Armanski, Head of UWC Dilijan and Natia Natsvlishvili, UNDP Resident Representative in Armenia, who emphasised the critical importance of engagement of youth in climate action globally and locally in Armenia.
“You are not just the leaders of tomorrow - you are the leaders of today. Your voices, your choices, and your activism have the power to shape a sustainable future. It is your innovation, energy, and creativity that will drive change. UNDP is actively working both globally and locally here in Armenia to promote sustainable solutions,” Natia Natsvlishvili said in her remarks to the youth.
A special video message from Mary Robinson, Chair of the Elders, former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and President of Ireland, was followed by the keynote address delivered by Kiri Atri, External Relations Officer at UNHCR in Armenia. Kiri Atri focused on how climate change affects refugees and displaced populations, as well as migration forced by climate.
The participants then took part in a panel discussion and breakout sessions with and led by prominent Armenian experts on climate and environment, including Diana Harutyunyan, UNDP Climate Change Senior Adviser; Vigen Shirvanyan, Disaster Risk Reduction / Climate Change Officer at UNICEF Armenia; Vardan Melikyan, former deputy minister of environment and environmental advisory partner; Lusine Manucharyan, Senior Adviser on Sustainability and Climate Change at Zangezour Copper and Molybdenum Combine.
The sessions explored various dimensions of climate justice, how it affects children and youth, focusing on Armenia’s achievements and specific vulnerabilities, the role of international cooperation in addressing climate change and the importance of youth activism in creating more equitable conditions.
The conference featured a site visit to energy efficient retrofitted buildings in Dilijan by the State subvention programme, the community with co-financing of UNDP- Green Climate Fund Project. UNDP’s Diana Harutyunyan and Andre Ohanian who led the visit demonstrated this tangible example of how to mitigate the impacts of climate change through more sustainable solutions.
There were also hands-on workshops, most of them led by youth, that allowed young people to share their experiences in contributing to sustainable practices in everyday life - from methods for recycling paper to making soap from leftover oils to taking advantage of plants in the wild.
LCOY Armenia was concluded with a statement ratified by the participants for presenting to YOUNGO, the UN platform which spearheaded local conferences of youth around the world to engage youth as activists for climate change issues.
For more information on LCOY Armenia please visit the website.
