Here is the speech of Juan Carlos, representing the youth NGOs during this last day of negotiations:
My name is Juan Carlos, and in the year 2050 I will be 64 years old. I am proud to represent the International Youth Climate Movement.
Christina Ora, a 17 year old from the Solomon Islands, addressed the opening plenary two weeks ago. She said “I was born in 1992. You have been negotiating all my life. You cannot tell us that you need more time.”
We have all worked for the past two years with the promise of a strong deal in Copenhagen to safeguard our future. Now it seems you will not get it done.
This is unacceptable. We placed our trust in you. You should be ashamed.
The United Nations was created to solve humanitarian and social crises, but instead of standing united, you are now the Divided Nations. Humanity can and must do better. Mother Nature will not negotiate with us.
You must set targets to get us back below 350 parts per million. You must agree on fair, sufficient AND additional financing to pay back the ecological debt to those most vulnerable.
The Youth dream of a sustainable future shared by all humanity. There is wisdom in the people’s hearts, and people are ingenious. We CAN solve this crisis if we just choose so. But this requires going beyond selfish national interests.
We support those nations who have refused to sign a suicide pact. We call on all nations not to accept anything that does not guarantee survival and climate justice.
The Youth believe that you care enough for the future of your children and grandchildren to sign a fair, ambitious and legally-binding agreement.
There will be no decisions about us, without us.
Rest assured that we will keep on working, and we will keep on pushing you harder and harder, until the deal is sealed.
Please do it now.
Thank you.











