Reflections from the United Nations Civil Society Conference (Katie Reeder)

Salina Leem and I.

On August 25^th, three other Canadian delegates and myself began our travels to Salt Lake City, Utah, for the United Nations 68^th Civil Society Conference. This was a rare opportunity to connect and exchange ideas with academics, entrepreneurs, and NGO’s to achieve Sustainable and Inclusive Cities.
 Our time at the conference was a flurry of activity. I was equal parts and amazed by the number of attendees, their unapologetic passion, and the diversity of sectors they worked in back home. Dozens of workshops were offered each day on topics ranging from creating inclusivity for refugees to the design of resilient urban infrastructure.   

Prayer Runners march on State Capital.

I gravitated towards sessions on climate action. I joined workshops on topics like water, clean energy, and efficient buildings, but my favourite was ‘Pathways to Renewable Energy’- a session led by the Sierra Club and the Salt Lake City Energy Program (SLCEP). The workshop discussed the process that Salt Lake City went through to pass a state bill that requires their power provider to meet a goal of relying on 100% renewable energy by the year 2030! This is the first legislation of its kind passed anywhere in The United States. Learning about the process used to achieve this landmark bill reminded bolstered my belief that clean energy initiatives have the potential to transcend party lines.I heard many exciting and inspiring cases of climate action, but I also encountered sobering stories from those on the sharp end of the climate crisis. Selina Neirok Leem, a youth delegate from the Republic of the Marshall Islands, spoke of how rising sea levels threaten the very existence of her state. Her childhood home, the graves of her ancestors, and the very state of her people may be below water within her generation. North Americans, well above sea level, are also distressed. We met a group of Native Americans (Diné and Navajo) organizing a rally outside of the conference. They had just run 330 miles on a Prayer Run from Bears Ears National Monument to the Utah State Capital to protest the cuts to Bears Ears protected area, the oil developments in the area, and the declining air quality affecting the health of their people.

Youth reading the Youth Climate Compact, a
document formed at the 68^th Civil Society Conference. 

Attending the United Nations conference while witnessing the Prayer Runners march was powerful. A reminder that climate action occurs in many arenas, grassroots organizing on the streets, in the classroom, and at all levels of government.  

Zaffia and myself, holding up the SDG’s we are excited 

to tackle back home. 

 Yet, some youth feel that political spaces are not open to them. Yes, we lack the decades of experience in policy and diplomacy, but what we do have is an enormous stake in the future we will inherit. Being politically active may feel uncomfortable, but today, our involvement is needed and is called for. It was truly a privilege and a pleasure to be a Canadian youth delegate to the first Civil Society Conference. The energy of the attendees inspired me – and that inspiration has not faded. Now that I am settled back in Canada, I am eager to continue to build out the relationships that began at this conference and to continue to push for climate action.Warmly, Katie Reeder
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