Sunday Night Orientation

The Agents, delegation leaders, steering committee members, and other SustainUS members who will be attending the Commission on Sustainable Development this week met for a 2 and a half hour orientation tonight. At a crowded table in the engineering building at Columbia University, we discussed our goals and purposes at the UN, fun things to do in New York, this blog and It's Getting Hot in Here, and most importantly, getting to know each other. The excitement was palpable, and I can't wait for the Agents to take the UN by storm.
Some things I'm looking forward to: a real-life, super qualified official US Youth Delegate. What an amazing gesture on the part of the US government and a fantastic opportunity for US young people, as well as a testament to the power of lobbying work and persistence. Policy papers, created by our Agents, being used to educate ourselves and reach out the youth caucus. A well-organized, well attended, and energized youth caucus coming off of a fabulous CSD Youth Energy Blast. Our delegates who have a huge amount of professional and educational experience in the issues that will be discussed this year and will contribute to the discussions not only as youth but as educated, informed voices of experience.

Months of preparation have gone into this weekend- I feel like I've spent most of it outside of myself somehow, vaguely aware that after weeks of email correspondence, I've finally met the Agents who before existed only as email address, fantastic resumes, and housing arrangements. I can't believe that tomorrow morning, they'll be all dressed in business attire, ready to enter the UN. Soon, they'll be contributing to different Major Groups, meeting delegates, taking notes in plenary sessions, and staying up all night drafting papers with the youth caucus. They'll be using acronyms with ease, navigating the UN corridors, and spreading the good name of SustainUS through CSD-14. Most of all, they'll be finding their own spot in this huge process while becoming a closely knit community within themselves, realizing how much they have in common and how much they can learn from each other.
Good luck, guys. I can't wait.

Meet the Agents of Change!

Each year, the Agents of Change program puts together delegations of young people to participate in conferences and events relevant to sustainable development. The UN Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD-14) is the program's biggest and most influential conference, and each year more and more young people vie for spots on the SustainUS delegation.

For CSD-14 we have an incredibly dynamic, accomplished, and diverse group of students and young professionals. Between the delegates and delegation leaders, we represent seven countries of origin, fourteen different states, and speak seventeen languages. From an young Alaskan woman who works for Native American rights to a young engineer from Pakistan working to advance sustainability in his field, the delegates are ready to bring their experience and enthusiasm to what will surely be an exciting CSD!

Allow me to introduce the Agents:

Aneri Patel, Cailey Gibson, Christi Electris, Dominic Frongillo, Dominic MacCormack, Jeremy Emerson, Jessica Lin, Jin Lee, Justin Saydell, Mauricio Hernandez, Regina Randall, Sameer Kamal, Sohail Razzaq

To learn more about each agent, visit our Agents of Change web site and click here to see biographies of the Agents.

And last but not least, the delegation leaders:
Amanda Fencl, Elizabeth Walker, Erin Kenzie, Fatema Abdul Rasul, Josh Arnold, Juan Pablo Hoffmaister, Mark Moroge, Rashmi Bhure, Steve Schwartz, Sylvia Wong

and we cannot forget the members of the Steering Committee that have joined the delegation: Chloe Stull-Lane, Michael Gale, Lauren Inouye, Monika Kerdeman, Josh Tulkin and Scott Paul

CSD14: In the name of energy and sustainable development

45 youth from 15 countries have gathered at the Earth Institute at Columbia University (New York, USA) in preparation for the fourteenth session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD14). Energy for development, climate change, industrial development and air pollution are the topics to be addressed at the session, and the youth have set clear priorities and goals to be accomplished.

The CSD blast served as an opportunity to share experiences and best practices from different parts of the world in addressing our growing demand for energy and the pressing reality of climate change. The sense of urgency, and the recognition that environmental justice and education must go hand-in-hand with sustainable development were set amongst the principles guiding the youth caucus at CSD14. Over the next two weeks youth will be presenting their vision of renewable energy and clean energy to suit sustainable development through personal experiences and case studies. Stay tuned!

Welcome!

This blog has been created to post dispatches, reflections, and information on the 14th session of the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) from May 1st-12th, 2006. Our intention is to regularly post what we are doing at the meetings, what major events and negotiations are taking place each day, and updates on country viewpoints and ideas on the issues on energy for sustainable development, climate change, air pollution and industrial development.

Please check the blog often, as we are planning on adding posts multiple times a day to keep everyone updated and informed on these important issues from the CSD perspective.