In the declaration, the children commit to personal changes in their own lives and demand that governments take actions to protect the world from the terrible effects of climate change.  Read the declaration for yourself.

“The battle against climate change is upon all of us. We are ready to act and we invite you to join us. Climate change is affecting our lives, our families and our future,” the document states.

“We must act immediately and we are ready to fulfill our commitments. We are prepared to give all we have as long as there is the possibility of saving our planet,” it continues.

Speaking to the leaders and the rest of the world community, the Declaration concludes by stating “we expect the same courage from you.” 

Climate Kiwis

Participating at the forum were the ‘Climate Kiwis’, a delegation of five young New Zealanders.

UNICEF, in partnership with Enviro-Challenge sponsored the delegation, who are Erana Walker (17) Whangarei, Rick Zwaan (16) Auckland, Phoebe Hunt (17) Rotorua, Travis Mills (15) Nelson, and Abby Ward (17) Nelson. The delegation from Kiribati was made up of Josephine Baaro (16),  Teako Otia Nebati (15) and Iaoniman Kambati (17).

Travis Mills was selected to be one of five children’s representatives at the press conference on the last day of the forum. 

Each of the delegates were officially named Climate Ambassadors, formalising a one-year commitment embodied in their Declaration. To better implement their promises, the young people have formed a social network so they can share their experiences and difficulties as they take forward what they have learned in Copenhagen.

The NZ delegation to the UNICEF Children’s Climate Forum is sponsored by Enviro-Challenge, an innovative Education for Sustainability programme.

Our Future

The Climate Kiwis returned to New Zealand strongly inspired by their peers from around the world, many of whom had very different life experiences from them. They learnt that some of the participants are already feeling the effects of climate change, which put a personal face on this important issue. The Climate Kiwis decided to share their experiences with other New Zealand youth, and created a DVD about the Children’s Climate Forum and how young people can make a difference. “Our Future: It’s up to us, it’s up to you” features footage from the Children’s Climate Forum and challenges others to take action. The DVD was launched in parliament on August 17, 2010. Order a copy of the DVD.

Meet UNICEF's Kiwi Climate Ambassadors

Following the Forum, there was a high-level meeting of decision makers representing every country in the world. This meeting was called the Fifteenth Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC COP15). The next Conference of the Parties will take place November 2010 in Cancun, Mexico.

How did we choose the Kiwi Climate Ambassadors?

UNICEF NZ issued a nationwide call-out to Kiwi’s between 14 and 17yrs old to write in and answer seven questions about climate change and why environmental issues are important to them.  We received great numbers of truly exceptional statements from young Kiwis all over the country!

We then short-listed 12 young people from across the country to attend a selection day in Wellington on the 26th June. We interviewed the candidates and they had a chance to work together on fun tasks including coming up with ideas about for how to off-set the carbon emissions created by flying to Copenhagen for the Children’s Climate Forum in Copenhagen!  We then chose five amazing young Kiwis to represent UNICEF and young New Zealanders everywhere.

Meet the Kiwi Climate Ambassadors        

View a photo essay of the selection day

Below you can view a video featuring a short montage of messages from Climate Ambassadors around the world to the COP15 leaders. This was taken on the second to last day of the UNICEF Children's Climate Forum in Copenhagen 2009. All the ambassadors are aged between 14 and 17.