Saffran Mihnar is youth climate activists, empowering young people in the field of climate change and sustainable development. He has contributed to the national and international youth platforms and communication at UNFCCC Sessions from since COP21 as well as several others international conferences such as One Planet Summit, European Conference on Science Journalism, EuroScience Open Forums and High-level Meeting on “Climate and Sustainable Development for All”. Saffran Mihnar has also been awarded as the most outstanding global leader for the success and contribution towards Global Youth Power Campaign launched by Restless Development.
Saffran Mihnar currently serves as the director for development and communication for a youth-led organization named EarthLanka Youth Network.
Climate change is impacting the world every day. we can see it in the unprecedented melting of the glaciers in the polar regions and freak weather conditions around the world.
In early of 2015 two main global agendas were launched under the guidance of the United Nations along with its respective agencies. The Agenda 2030 and Paris Agreement were created in response to the threats of climate change to humanity. The timeline that the implementation of the global agendas agreed upon was 15 years.
We have nearly reached half a decade since the adoption of the agreements, but there is a huge lack of financial and political commitments by global citizens, especially the governments, private sector and huge industries manufactures. It is very clear from The 1.5 °C global warming report published by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change(IPCC) led by leading climate scientists, stressing the need to maintain the strongest commitment to keep the global warming to well below 2 °C under the Paris Agreement. Over the last centuries, the oceans to have been warming at a faster rate than before that has caused a devastating impact on aquatic life.
All governments and stakeholders need to understand and assess the financial needs of developing countries, as well as to understand how these financial resources can be mobilized. Provision of resources should also mainly aim to achieve a balance between adaptation and as well as mitigation.
Saffran
Assessing progress in provision and mobilization of support is also part of the global stocktake under the Paris Agreement. The Paris Agreement also places emphasis on the transparency and enhanced predictability of financial support for developing countries.
Tackling climate change should be prioritised with ensuring people around the world are healthy, prosperous, have food, clean air and water, The fundamental things to live. Agriculture, water, energy, biodiversity, public health, cities, education, and every other sector are well addressed by the 17 goals and its 169 targets of UN Sustainable Development Goals which influences and is influenced by the climate.
Everything is connected to central equilibrium balance of the earth ecosystem. Climate action towards 1.5 °C can be a significant step towards achieving the SDGs. However, it seems that most of the countries have been not progressive enough to meet the global commitment by 2030.
Today more than half of the world population is young people. I strongly believe that they are one of the key stakeholders that should be involved and engaged in all means of planning and implementation.
Young people should share ownership in the process of development they will feel more responsible for the outcome and sustainability of the development. Young voices should be heard and represented at the highest level of decision making process with a permanent seat at the negotiations and meetings in any platforms. Engaging stakeholders who are directly affected by the situation is more effective in decision-making, it also makes the development work more transparent.
One of the most fundamental keys is that we also need to build the capacity of youth, so they are able to handle the problems associated with environmental, economic and social transformations. Developing a youth capacity whether at the local, regional or national level will allow for better youth that can lead to sustainable future.
Enough of talks and sessions let’s act now together to save humanity. We are the first generation to feel the impact of climate change and the last generation that could do something to create one possible livable space for the future and present.
