Global Youth - Australian Youth Climate Coalition (2009)





About

- Mission: "Build a generation wide movement to solve climate change before it's too late, through bringing about short term political impact and long term cultural change".
- November 2006: Founded, 27 youth organisations, over 50,000 young people.
- February 2007: Officially launched.
- May 2008: Series of multi-faith youth climate change initiatives, including a major presence at Catholic World Youth Day with a "Christian Youth Declaration" signed by 11 major Christian youth groups.
- 2009: Environment Minister's Young Environmentalist of the Year Award; Featured by more than 100 media outlets, including The Age, the Daily Telegraph, the Canberra Times, the Sydney Morning Herald, Dolly, Girlfriend, Rolling Stone, G Magazine, ABC TV's Q&A, Lateline and the 730 Report and JTV, SBS
News, Sunrise, JJJ, Sky News, ABC Radio National, Heywire, as well as more than 30 local media stories from the Northcote Leader to the Sunshine Coast Daily.
- UN Framework Convention on Climate Change: Delegation of 20 young Australians in Poland (2008) and 10 in Bali (2007).


Team

Co-Directors
- Anna Rose (1983-): National Environment Officer for the National Union of Students (2005); Former National Convenor of the Australian Student Environment Network; Co-author of the book 'Future by Us' and former editor of Australia's largest student paper; Representative to the UN Kyoto Protocol negotiations in Montreal (2005) and participated in various international climate negotiations; Volunteer on the Obama campaign and the Energy Action Coalition in US; Member of the Environment Minister's Advisory Council on Environmental Education; Fellow of the International Youth Foundation; Board of the Foundation for Young Australians' 'Young Social Pioneers' Program; Member of the Australian American Leadership Dialogue; Australian Leadership Award from Australian-Davos connection; Degree in Arts (Asian Studies)/ Law from the University of Sydney.
- Amanda McKenzie (1983-): Founder (September 2006) and President of ASCENT, the Australian Climate Change Education Network; Key role in the development of the international youth climate movement, attending the UN Climate Change Conferences in Bali, Poznan and Copenhagen; Represented Australian youth in discussions with the Prime Minister, Federal Ministers, Premiers and State Government representatives, and business and industry representatives from across the world; Arts degree in politics from Melbourne University and Law degree from Monash University.

General Manager
- Ellen Sandell (1984-): Melbourne Awards for Individual Contribution to the Environment (2009); Former Environment Officer in the University of Melbourne Student Union; Founder of the award-winning Leadership in Environmental Action Program; Former Policy Adviser in the Office of Climate Change in the Victorian Department of Premier and Cabinet; Member of both the Bali and Poznan Australian Youth Delegations; Degrees in Arts and Science from the University of Melbourne.


Activities

Youth Decide
- Over 2,000 volunteers in every State & Territory.
- 330 voting events at schools, Universities, TAFEs and community centres around the country.
- 37,500 young people taking part.
- Over 5,000 young people at the Youth Decide Concert at Federation Square featuring Australian bands The Cat Empire, Blue King Brown, Kisschasy and more.
- Major Partners: World Vision; Monash University; Climate Works Australia; Foundation for Young Australians; KPMG; Visy Industries.

Power Shift
- 1st national youth climate summit at the University of Western Sydney and the University of Technology Sydney.
- 1,500 youth from every State & Territory in Australia.
- Training youth advocates through workshops, panels, and trainings modelled on the Obama campaign training.
- Culminated in a giant "flash mob" dance on the steps of the Sydney Opera House.
- Speakers included: Al Gore (via video); Head of the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change; Federal Senators; New South Wales Premier; South Australian Premier; Micronesian climate advocate; Energy Action Coalition; Indian Youth Climate Network; Australian Council of Trade Unions President.
- Supporters: WWF; Get Up!; Greenpeace; University of Technology Sydney; University of Western Sydney.

Youth Climate Leadership Program
- 9-month training program for up-and-coming young climate leaders in Australia.
- The project aims to create a generation of highly skilled social change makers to help solve climate change.
- Core areas: Personal narrative; Building relationships and motivation; Strategy, action and personal
development.
- Workshops: Climate Science and Politics; Media; Working in teams and leadership styles; Campaign Strategy; Project Management; Online Organising; Public Speaking; Organising climate actions.

Switched on Schools Project
- National climate change program for students and teachers with online and face-to-face components.
- Since 2006, directly reached over 6,000 students in over 150 schools across all States and Territories in Australia.


Members

AIESEC
- Association Internationale des Étudiants en Sciences Économiques et Commerciales, officially founded in 1948, began as "AIESE" in 1944.
- International youth organization that includes over 50,000 students in 107 countries and territories (2009), present in over 1,700 universities across the globe, and sends students on 8,000 international exchanges yearly.
- Australian Partners: Microsoft; IE; Westpac; Reckon; Drake International; Australian Government, The Treasury.
- Australian Supporters: Singapore Airlines; Council for Australian-Arab Relaions; Australian Association of Graduate Employers; Australian Youth Climate Coalition; Brightest Young Minds Foundation; Givle; Australian Government, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade; Viventé.
- Global Partners: Artemisia; General Electric; Electrolux; Shell; Alcatel; Cadbury Schweppes; Deutsche Post DHL; Ingersoll Rand; Facebook; Anheuser-Busch InBev; ABN AMRO Bank; PricewaterhouseCoopers; Enterprise Asia; Hewlett-Packard; Standard Chartered Bank; Microsoft; Unilever; Cisco Systems; UBS; IE; Husqvarna; Reckitt Benckiser; TCS; Vale.
- Global Supporters: European Commission, Executive Agency Education, Audiovisual and Culture; Ashoka; Career Innovation; International Union for Conservation of Nature; European Academy of Business in Society; The European Association for International Education; The European Bahá'í Business Forum; European Business Summit; European Foundation for Management Development; Future Considerations; United Nations Global Compact; Global Reporting Initiative; Instyle; Junior Chamber International; Junior Achievement; Pioneers of Change; Society for Organizational Learning; Taking IT Global; Tallberg Foundation; Transparency International; World Economic Forum; World Wildlife Fund; UNESCO; The World Bank; UN Habitat.
- Global Youth to Business Forum 2009: 600 youth present, 60 organizations, 107 countries represented, across Entrepreneurship in the crisis, Climate Change & Sustainability, and Labour Mobility & Diversity.

Centre for Sustainability Leadership
- "We've tried to get people in positions of power to care, now we're going to get people who care into positions of influence."
- Programs: The Centre for Sustainability Leadership Fellowship Program and The Global Future Sustainability Leaders Program.
- Supporters: Melbourne City Council, The United Nations Environment Program, Minds at Work, The George Alexander Foundation, The Ian Potter Foundation, Ensemble.
- Larissa Brown, Executive Director: 2010 Victorian Young Australian of the Year, 2009 Australian Geographic Young Environmentalist of the Year, 2008 Australian Young Environmentalist of the Year, 2006 British Council award for Communicating Climate Change and 2006 Brian Robinson Fellowship. Member of the Ministers Reference Council on Climate Change Adaptation which advises the Victorian State Environment Minister.
- James Gifford, Board Member: Executive Director for Principles for Responsible Investment, joint project of UNEP Finance Initiative and the UN Global Compact.
- Alison Dodd, Secretary: Legal policy officer with the Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment, working in the area of climate change policy and legislation; Victorian Vice President of the Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand; Policy Officer in the area of climate change policy with the International National Trusts Organisation.
- Phillip Kingston, Vice Chair: Founder and Managing Director of Kingston Development; Lead consultant at Kingston Consulting; Executive Director of Planit Me Pty Ltd.; Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors; Member of the Melbourne Cricket Club.

Engineers without Borders (AU)
- Gold Partners ($50,000+ Annual Fee): The University of Western Australia, BHP Billiton, Bilfinger Berger Services, Sinclair Knight Merz Consulting, Worley Parsons, John Holland, The University of Queensland, Queensland University Technology.
- Silver Partner ($20,000+ Annual Fee): AECOM Technology Corporation, GHD, ARUP, Seymour White.
- Standard Partner: Simulus, John Muller & Partners, Alluvium, Parsons Brinckerhoff, Clough, Syme Marmion & Co.
- University Partners: University of Adelaide, The University of Western Australia, The University of Queensland, The University of Sydney, The Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology University, The Australia National University, Queensland University Technology.
- Partnerships: Sudanese Australia Integrated Learning, Menzies Incorporated, Forward Shift Environmental, Song Lines, Cambodian School of Prosthetics and Orthotics, Kaiadilt Aboriginal Corporation, Bana Yarralji Bubu Aboriginal Corporation, Live & Learn Environmental Education, Habitat for Humanity Vietnam, KSE Medical, Yayasan Emmanuel Water, Yayasan Wisnu Foundation, Unit Pengelola Sarana Air Bersih, Hamoris Timor Oan, Lao Institute for Renewable Energy, Engineers Without Borders Nepal, Rural Integrated Development Services Nepal, People Energy & Environment Development Association, The East West Overseas Aid Foundation, Pitchandikulam Forest, Christian Medical College, Byrraju Foundation, Appropriate Rural Technology Institute, Monash Student Association, Kooma Traditional Owners Association, Resource Development International, Leedal Partnership, Medical Technology Transfer and Services, Bia Hula Foundation, Digital Data Divide, East Meets West.

International Young Professionals Foundation
- Formed in 2001 focused on the UN Millennium Development Goals.
- Members: Over 180 full, 750 associate, and network of about 2000, from over 130 different countries.
- 3rd International Young Professionals Summit at UK (2008): "How young professionals can help to achieve the UN Millennium Development Goals". Sponsored by Coca-Cola Great Britain supporting the attendance of African delegates.
- Alan Wu (Shanghai, 1984): Former Director; Youth spokesperson for Australian Youth Affairs Coalition.

Law Students for a Just Community
- First conference in 2005 and incorporated in 2007 at the Australian National Union Law Students' Society.
- Conference Sponsors (2007): Flinders University; University of Adelaide; Law Society of South Australia; Oxfam Shop; Albert van Moorst Memorial Trust.

National Indigenous Youth Movement of Australia
- Formed in 1999 and officially launched in 2001.
- Indigenous people aged 18-30 years old.
- 2007: Partnership with Reconciliation Australia, a host of local organisations and supported by Telstra, Oxfam, Rio Tinto Aboriginal Foundation and the Foundation for Young Australians.

National Union of Students
- Peak representative body for Australian university students.
- Formed in 1987 (after collapse of the Australian Union of Students in 1984) at the same time that the Hawke government introduced the Higher Education Contribution Scheme (a system of deferred tuition payments), abolishing the free education system previously introduced by the Whitlam government.
- Factions: National Labor Students (Socialist Left); Student Unity (Labor Unity); Australian Liberal Students' Federation; Socialist Alternative.
- Supreme decision-making body: National Conference, held annually at the University of Ballarat in December.
- National Departments: National Women's Department ('Say no to sexism campaign'), National Queer Department, National International Students Department, National Education Department, National Welfare Department, Small and Regional Department, Ethno-Cultural Department, Indigenous Department.
- State Committees: Women's Committee, Women's Campus Co-ordinating Committee, State Small and regional Campuses Committee.

Oz Green
- Founded in 1992 and legally incorporated on December 1993.
- Working nationally in Australia and internationally in East Timor, Papua New Guinea, India and Pakistan.
- "Educates, engages and empowers young people, adults, corporations and communities to tackle critical environmental sustainability challenges (such as climate change and water) and become agents for positive social change."
- Worked with more than 500 schools, 500 businesses and many thousands of individuals.
- Trained 1,100 sustainability leaders through Youth LEAD, Leading with the Heart, MYRiveR and Living Communities programs, and involved a further 1,600 participants in sustainability education programs and 14,400 students and 12,000 households in sustainability events and actions in Australia (and an additional 20,000 internationally in East Timor, India and Papua New Guinea).
- Sustainability in Action Process: Short Talks, .5-2 hour mini-workshops and talks accessible to larger audiences of 40-400 people; Living Communities, 8x2 hour module program with integrated co-coaching and follow-up; Leading with the Heart, 3 day residential sustainability leadership workshop; Facilitator Training, 5 day residential training with follow up experiential facilitator accreditation process; Special Purpose Programs, based on the Sustainability in Action Process but tailored for specific client needs.

The Otesha Project
- Founded in 2000, formerly known as Cycle for Sustainability, restructured to become The Otesha Project (Australia) in 2008.
- Organisation that offers bicycle tours and educational programs to engage youth about sustainable consumption.
- Growing number of passionate tours: From over 60 cyclists (now sustainability advocates) to over 12,000 youth.
- Supporters: Sustainable Living Foundation, Human Powered Cycles, Aussie Butt Cream.
- Past Supporters: Myer Foundation, Brigidine Common Funds, David O. Jones Mitre 10, Pedal Australia for Clean Energy, CBD Cycles, Ripe Organics, World Naked Bike Ride, The Royal Exchange, Kombu Wholefoods, Krishna's Vegetarian Cafe.
- Projects: Bike Performing Tours, School Performances, School Workshops, Melbourne Schools Program, Motivational Speeches, School Follow-up Program.
- Annual membership: $10 unwaged, $15 waged, $35 household.

United Nations Youth Association of Australia
- Established around 1970.
- Individuals aged between 15 and 25.
- Largest by-youth, for-youth organisation in the country.
- Aims to develop students' skills in vital areas such as debating, negotiation, leadership, problem-solving and understanding of international affairs in an accessible and supportive environment.
- Comprises 8 Divisions, one operating in each Australian State and Territory and collectively forming the National Council from which receives it mandate.
- Youth Representative to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Created in 1999; World Vision and Medibank Private as gold sponsors; Monash University and Creating Comunications as principal sponsors.
- Chris Varney (21), 2009 Youth Representative to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Former Learning & Development Officer in World Vision International's Leadership Development Team; State Director of Vision Generation Victoria (2007-2008); Former Board of Governance and Young Media Spokesperson for Youth Affairs Council of Victoria; Former member of the City of Knox Youth Council, the Victorian Student Representative Council, the United Nations Youth Association of Australia, Youth Week Victoria, and leader on the Rotary Youth Leadership Program; Former National Co-Director of Vision Generation Australia (World Vision's youth movement), World Vision Youth Ambassador, Vice-Chairman overseeing youth fundraising for World Vision aid projects; Educated at Wantirna College, The Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology Technical and Further Education, and Arts/Law at Monash University.
- Programing:


Partners

Affinity Intercultural Foundation
- Established by a group of young Australian Muslims in early 2001.
- For the long haul and making contribution to remove bigotry and establish peace and harmony in Australia together with partner organisations.

Australian Medical Student Association
- Public company limited by guarantee.
- The Executive become the Directors of the company. The Executive is elected annually by the Representatives from each Medical School at Third Council. The Council is made up of a Representative from each Medical School. Each Representative is elected by their respective Medical Society as part of its internal election process. Committees report directly to the Council. Committees are headed by a Chairperson and operate the National Convention: Global Health Conference, Global Health Network, International Students Network, Specialty Interest Networks. Subcommittees are extension at the medical school level.
- Medical Societies: Australian National University, Bond University, Deakin University, Flinders University, Griffith University, James Cook University, Monash University, University of Adelaide, University of Melbourne, University of Newcastle, Univeristy of New England, University of New South Wales, University of Notre Dame Fremantle, University of Notre Dame Sydney, University of Queensland, University of Sydney, University of Tasmania, University of Western Australia, University of Western Sydney, University of Wollongong.
- Affiliate Organisations: The Australian Medical Association; General Practice Students' Network; National Rural Health Students' Network; Beyond Blue, the national depression initiative; International Federation of Medical Student Associations; Asian Medical Students' Association; The Lancet Student.
- Partners: Australian General Practice Training (3 or 4 year full-time registrar training program funded by the Australian Government); The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners; Health Super Student Club; Australian Medical Association; Tropical Medical Training (the most advanced general practice training and education provider in northern Australia).
- The Climate Code Green Advocacy Campaign: Hopes to demonstrate that climate change and health are inseparable, and that it is impossible to advocate for better health without simultaneously advocating for meaningful action on climate change.
- Programming:


Australian Student Environment Network
- "Climate change is the biggest social and environmental issue of our generation."
- Formed at the 1997 Students and Sustainability conference in Townsville, experiencing a revival since 2002, and especially since 2005.
- Individuals in the movement come together in collectives, these collectives come together in state networks, and they all come together in the national network.
- Switched On (2007): Youth climate conference organised with Australian Youth Climate Coalition. High school and university students and other young people to discuss the root causes of climate change, learn from successful social movements and plan how to take action.
- Each year helps to organise the Students of Sustainability conference, focused on a variety of environmental and social justice issues.
- State Networks: Western Australian Student Environment Network, South Australia Cross Campus Collective, Cross Campus Environment Network, Student Environmnet Activist Network, Queensland Environmnet Activist Network, Charles Darwin University.

Australian Youth Affairs Coalition
- Incorporated association established in 2002 following the de-funding of the previous peak body for youth affairs, the Australian Youth Policy and Action Coalition (1999).
- Governance by a National Representative Council of up to 22 members and an Executive Committee of 8 members.
- National Youth Organisations: Australian Clearinghouse for Youth Studies, Australian Youth Research Centre, Fusion Australia, National Multicutural Youth Issues Network, National Union of Students, United Nations Youth Association of Australia, YMCA Australia.
- National Representative Council: Youth Affairs Network of Queensland, Youth Action & Policy Association, Youth Coalition of the ACT, Youth Affairs Council of Victoria/South Australia/Western Australia, Youth Network of Tasmania.
- Executive Committee: Youth Affairs Council of South Australia/Victoria, Youth Affairs Network of Queensland, Youth Action & Policy Association, United Nations Youth Association of Australia.
- Meredith Turnbull, Executive Director: Co-Director of GetUp!; Executive Officer of Twenty10 GLBT Youth Services; Executive Officer of the Youth Affairs Council of Western Australia; Coordinator of the Freedom Centre and Project Officer with the Western Australia AIDS Council; Named one of Australia's 25 most influential gays and lesbians; Bachelor of Social Science and Masters of Business Administration; The Benevolent Society's Sydney Leadership Program (2007).
- Alan Wu, youngest and longest-serving chairman (2004-2007): National Executive and on the Classification Review Board of the Australian Republican Movement; Special Envoy for Young People to the UN Environment Programme and only young person on the Australian National Commission for UNESCO; Director of International Young Professionals Foundation; Youth representative on the Australian delegation to the World Summit on Sustainable Development (2002); Advisory Council on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation; Editorial Board of the Melbourne Journal of International Law; Positions with Oxfam's International Youth Parliament, the Commonwealth Youth Parliament, the Australian National Youth Week National Planning Group, the Australian National Youth Roundtable, and the Foundation for Young Australians; 2006 Australia Day Brisbane Lord Mayor's Young Citizen of the Year award; 2008 Australian Human Rights Commission's Young People's Human Rights Commendation; Invitee to the Australia 2020 Summit; Participant in the Asialink Leaders Program; Presented on youth affairs for numerous organisations including the Asia Education Foundation, the World Bank and the United Nations; Youngest-ever recipient of the Future Summit Leadership Award; 2009 and 2010 Australia Day Ambassador.

Just Act
- Initiative of Justice and International Mission, a unit of the Uniting Church in Australia.
- Justice and International Mission: To provide resources and to engage with and educate others about issues of social justice. Activities range from campaigning for the rights of refugee and asylum seekers to advocating for a global ban on cluster munitions, from gambling issues through to climate change, from issues of inequality to partner churches in the Asia Pacific.
- Uniting Church in Australia: Formed on 1977 when many congregations of the Methodist Church of Australasia, Presbyterian Church of Australia, and Congregational Union of Australia came together under the Basis of Union.
- Basis of Union: The Uniting Church lives and works within the faith and unity of the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church.

The Oak Tree Foundation
- Founded in 2003 by Hugh Evans and Nicolas Mackay.
- Aid and development Publicly Limited Company run by people under the age of 26 working together to end global poverty.
- Presented with the 'Free Your Mind' award at the MTV Music Awards (2007).
- Oaktree's Schools 4 Schools program: Expanded to over 40 schools across Australia, one of the largest programs in the country engaging school students on issues of social justice.
- More than 10,000 supporters, more than 300 conferences and speaking engagements reaching more than 150,000 people.
- Raise over $400,000 annually to support educational projects in developing communities.
- Over the last 5 years supported 11 projects in 6 countries and currently supports 6 projects in 4 countries.
- Hugh Evans (1983-): Victorian Certificate of Education at Carey Baptist Grammar School in Melbourne, Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Science at Monash University and Masters in International Relations at the University of Cambridge; Founder and CEO of the Global Poverty Project (supporting the UN Millennium Development Goals); Over 30 countries around the world, including India, 6 months studying at Woodstock School as part of the 1999 William Carey Scholarship, The Hague, as part of the Australian Schools delegation to The Hague International model United Nations, South Africa, as the inaugural World Vision Youth Ambassador and participated in the World Congress on Children's Rights (2002), Minneapolis, speaking at a HIV/AIDS conference, Japan, speaking to the Junior Chamber International (2004), Israel, where studied the NGO and youth sectors as part of the 2006 National Australia Bank Yahad Scholarship; Victorian representative for the United Nations Youth Association of Australia's National Youth Conference (2000); Young Victorian of the Year (2003), Young Australian of the Year (2004) and Junior Chamber International Young Person of the World (2005); Co-chair of the Australian 2020 Youth Summit (2008).

Sai Youth
- Young Adult programs established to encourage young adults (16 to 35 years of age) to lead purposeful lives by learning and practicing spiritual values as defined and established by the life, message, and works of Sathya Sai Baba.
- Sathya Sai Baba: Followers in 178 countries (2002), some of them have faith in his claim to be a purna avatar (full divine incarnation) of Shiva and Shakti, who is believed to have been predicted in the Bhagavad Gita, this means that see him as a God.
- More than 2100 Sai Centres in over 114 countries worldwide.
- United Kingdom (1970-1983): Growing from 2 to 51 centres.
- Australia: Centres and Groups in every State and Territory.
- The Sathya Sai Baba movement: Unity of all religions.
- Global Unity: "Mankind can find happiness only in Unity, not in diversity".
- Goals: "Feel and experience Sai's love in all by not only living with God but living FOR God".
- The 5 Wings: Spiritual, Education, Service, Ladies, Young Adults.
- Institutes: The Sathya Sai World Foundation, The Sai Institute of Education, The Sai Medical Unit, Sathya Sai Uturn Training School.
- The Code of Conduct: 1. Daily meditation and prayer; 2. Devotional singing/prayer with members of his family once per week; 3. Participation in the educational program conducted by the Organisation for children; 4. Attendance at least once per month at group devotional programs conducted by the Organisation; 5. Participation in community service and other programs of the Organisation; 6. Regular study of Sai literature; 7. Putting into practice the principle of "Ceiling on Desires" and utilise any savings thereby generated for the service of mankind; 8. Speaking softly and lovingly with everyone with whom he comes into contact; 9. Avoiding talking ill of others especially in their absence. Every member of the Organisation must undertake Sadhana (spiritual discipline) as an integral part of his daily life. Non-observance or violation shall disqualify a member from holding any office or from being an active member in the Organisation. The appropriate authority in the Organisation may remove any such member from office and declare him disqualified to hold such office or to be an active member of the Organisation without assigning any reason.

Student Organised Network for Architecture
- Founded in 1997, national student membership arm of the Australian Institute of Architects.

Vision Generation
- World Vision's national, volunteer youth movement to inform and challenge young Australians on the issue of global poverty.



About
- Founded in the United States in 1950, one of the largest Christian relief and development organizations in the world with a $1.6 billion budget (2007) and $2.6 billion revenue (2008), working on 6 continents.
- Goal: "Follow our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ in working with the poor and oppressed to promote human transformation, seek justice and bear witness to the good news of the Kingdom of God".
- Richard Stearns, President since June 1998: President and chief executive officer of Lenox Inc. (1995); President of Lenox Collections (1987); Vice president at The Franklin Mint (1985); Various roles and President of Parker Brothers Games (1977-1985); Marketing with the Gillette Company; Bachelor's degree from Cornell University and MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.


UN Framework Convention on Climate Change


Presentation


Conference


Listening


Debating


Taking Action


Message