On August 9th, a number of former youth delegates to United Nations climate change conferences challenged the Environment Minister to a debate. The invitation came after an internal Environment Canada document was released that claimed that the youth involved in climate negotiations were ‘not well-informed’ when it comes to climate change. 

On Tuesday, the Environment Minister declined our invitation. 

October 3 2012

To :          Honourable Peter Kent, Environment Minister

We, former members of the Canadian Youth Delegation to United Nations climate conferences, received your message of October 2, 2012 declining our invitation to a public debate.

We are happy to hear that your “personal impression is that this country's youth climate activists are in fact very well informed on the issue of climate change,” contradicting the view that your Department’s officials imparted to you.

We agree with the general principle that there is “no benefit in…debating a matter we already agree on,” as you write. When people are in agreement, the natural next step is to discuss how to take action that is in our collective interest.

We thus assume you will accept our invitation to attend a special session at Powershift  2012 sometime between October 26th and 29th in order to discuss how we can address the dire consequences of climate change and transition to a clean and just energy economy.

We will be extending invitations to Environment Critics from the other national parties to attend sessions at Powershift 2012.

Please respond to Amara Possian so that we may arrange this important session.

Signed,

Maryam Adrangi
Canadian Youth Delegate to COP 15 (UNFCCC)

Matthew Chisholm
Canadian Youth Delegate to COP 17 (UNFCCC)

Alex Doukas
Canadian Youth Delegate to COP 14 & 15 (UNFCCC)

Kristian Gareau
Canadian Youth Delegation to COP 11 (UNFCCC)

Maia Green
Canadian Youth Delegate to COP 12, 14, 15, & 17 (UNFCCC)

Crystel Hajjar
Canadian Youth Delegate to COP 17 (UNFCCC)

James Hutt
Canadian Youth Delegate to COP 17 (UNFCCC)

Stephen McGlenn
Canadian Youth Delegate to COP 16 (UNFCCC)

Kaleigh McGregor Bales
Canadian Youth Delegate to COP 17 (UNFCCC)

Emilie Novaczek
Canadian Youth Delegate to COP 16 & 17 (UNFCCC)

Tasha Peters
Canadian Youth Delegate to COP 16 & 17 (UNFCCC)

Amara Possian
Canadian Youth Delegate to COP 16 & 17 (UNFCCC)
Youth Delegate to Rio+20 (UNCSD)

Marie-Marguerite Sabongui
Canadian Youth Delegation to COP16 (UNFCCC)

Cameron Stiff
Canadian Youth Delegate to COP 11 & 12 (UNFCCC)

Robin Tress
Canadian Youth Delegate to COP 16 & 17 (UNFCCC)

Daniel T'seleie
Canadian Youth Delegate to COP 15, 16, 17 (UNFCCC)

Audrey Yank
Canadian Youth Delegate to COP 16 (UNFCCC)
Youth Delegate to Rio+20 (UNCSD)

Leehi Yona
Youth Delegate to Rio +20 (UNCSD)

[This letter has been posted on behalf of the signatories and does not necessarily reflect the views of current and future youth delegations or the organizations that support them. If you would like to add your name or an organizational endorsement, please send us a message at a.possian@gmail.com]