Students’ voices helping to influence international biodiversity convention
Issues about a lack of environmental education and the conservation of nature were some of the key points raised by participants.
An event took place at midday on Monday inviting all NTU students to learn about biodiversity and have their say on what should be addressed at a national and international level.
Following on from this, the Global Biodiversity Youth Network (GYBN) will be attending the Conference of Parties (COP) for Biological Diversity in Colombia at the end of the month to give young people a voice in this matter.
Josh Shaw, an NTU student with a BSc in Wildlife Conservation and currently studying a Masters in Endangered Species Recovery, ran the event alongside Harsh Sagar as local representatives of GYBN UK.
He said: “We’re inviting students to come along, learn a little bit about COP 16, the convention on biological diversity, and also to share their opinions for the future of nature.
“It’s definitely important that young people get their voices heard about these issues.
“We’re going to be the ones facing the issues of all the destruction that has been going on for us, so essentially we just want to make sure that our opinions on how we think the future should be is actually heard, listened to and implemented.”
The event started with an introduction to the Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD) and then students are supported to give their opinions on the issues.
Many people from a range of courses and knowledge on this environmental matter attended the meeting to share what changes are important to them.
Josh added: “People that don’t interact with biodiversity at all can definitely get involved and people that don’t interact with policy as well.
“I think everyone, no matter how much you know about nature, goes to a park and thinks about some of these things or even just thinks there isn’t a park here so therefore I’d like a park.”
The convention takes place every two years and it is a chance for biodiversity issues to be put forward and policies to be made based on these views.
Josh said: “One of the key things is that we’re going to take youth opinions and convert them into actions that the government can take to actually listen to us.”
A second event will be taking place on Brackenhurst campus tomorrow (8 October) at 4pm and you can find out more information about GYBN UK on their Instagram.
