GCE is proud to present the pledge of our Climate Pact Ambassador Lorenzo concerning the activities we envisage for the meaningful engagement of youth in the EU Just Transition in 2022. This follows the first pledge from our ambassador Zuzanne Groenewoud, which was approved by the Commission earlier this year in February.
The following is the text officially submitted to the European Commission. Keep posted for all updates!
Heading Generation Climate Europe pledges to engage young people from the regions supported by the EU Just Transition Mechanism in the EU-wide debate on the just transition while empowering them to act in their own community for intergenerational justice.
Text of the Pledge:
Generation Climate Europe (GCE) pledges to:
network with at least a youth activist/organisation working on the just transition per EU Member State by the end of 2022. We will connect with activists to spread awareness on the EU just transition tools (Just Transition Mechanism, Just Transition Platform...) and empower them to demand their local authorities to include the voice of youth in the relevant decisions connected to the Territorial Just Transition Plans of their region.
organise at least two virtual workshops by the end of 2022 to make all activists/organisations connect and exchange best practices on how to make sure youth is engaged in the just transition.
At the same time, GCE will:
channel the information activists provide to us on how the EU just transition is progressing in their local community through regular reports that will be presented to the European Parliament and the Commission. We aim to launch a first report by 5 May 2022, and a second one by December 2022. They will be presented to the Parliament at the relevant debates of the REGI Committee on the just transition, and to the Commission at the meetings of the Just Transition Platform
connect local activists directly to the EU by facilitating their participation in events organised by the EU institutions to collect input from stakeholders on the just transition. A key event is the Just Transition Platform, for instance, taking place in May and November. The event is based on thematic debates surrounding the just transition, and GCE aims to have at least one youth speaker with relevant expertise to take part in each debate.
Generation Climate Europe has been striving since its foundation in 2019 to connect young people around Europe to EU decision making on climate issues. The just transition offers a chance for youth across disadvantaged communities in the EU to rethink their future, and we will make sure they can reach the right ears to have a strong voice in the transition from start to end.