Calling for volunteers in lead up to climate negotiations

Worried about climate change? Want to make a difference?

This December must be a defining moment in international climate change negotiations or Australia and the rest of the world will be in serious climate trouble! So… we need to get the message out there. We are looking for volunteers to help us and we have a range of jobs available that can fit your time commitment.

So who are we?

We’re Megan and Kirsty from the Australian Youth Climate Coalition (AYCC) and we are coordinating young volunteers across Australia to raise awareness of climate change negotiations at COP 14 this December. AYCC is a coalition of youth and environmental organisations across Australia formed from the belief of the importance of youth having a united voice on this issue as we’ll be the most affected by climate change.
This December countries from around the world are getting together to make the ‘new Kyoto Protocol’ and twenty young Australians have been selected by AYCC to go to Poland for the negotiations. Australian volunteers will work together with these twenty to get the Australian government to listen to what youth want in the ‘new Kyoto Protocol’. For more info go to www.aycc.org.au

So what do we want to achieve?

We want to make sure Australia’s government becomes a leader in international climate negotiations by committing to strong emissions targets, supporting the reduction of deforestation in developing countries and helping developing countries to adapt and mitigate climate change.

We need you to help us to apply pressure to the government by:

Raising awareness of COP 14 through media
Raising awareness in schools and youth organisations
Engaging with and lobbying federal MPs in your local area to make sure the youth voice is heard
Collecting messages from youth in your community for the Australian Delegation to present to Australian government ministers in Poland.

So what do we want you to do?

Local Coordinators: We need a local coordinator in each capital city to liaise with us and other local coordinators. Make sure everyone in their local group is on track.

Media: Trying to get COP14 and AYCC in the media through any number of the following:
Keeping an eye on local newspapers and writing letters to the editor
Talking on talk-back radio or local stations
Liaising with campaigns/action volunteers to get their stories in the media by approaching local media outlets.

Schools: Engaging schools in the issue and collecting messages through any of the following:
Help develop information packs and send them to local schools/youth organisations
Ask for messages from students, collect and send them to us
Collecting contact information of students who are interested in being more involved
Getting groups of students to write letters to/visit local federal MPs
If you are confident, going out to give presentations to schools (or even giving a short presentation for your class or year level)

Campaigns/Actions: Trying to get the message out there through any of the following:
Lobbying and pestering local MPs
Performing non-violent creative actions, drawing attention to Australia’s international climate policy in your local area
Collecting messages from people in your workplace/university/school etc.

We would like to be as flexible as possible, so please feel free to mix and match of the above volunteer roles or if you have any other ways that you think you could help please let us know. Please email us with your name, location, time available and the role/s you are interested in helping with.

No role you take on will be too great or too small and no experience is necessary!

We hope to be hearing from you soon and hope you have a lovely day!


Kirsty and Megs

kirsty.albion@youthclimatecoalition.org

megan.ward@youthclimatecoalition.org