Redwood at LCOY USA 2023: Shaping Tomorrow's Climate Action
Three Redwood team members had the incredible opportunity to represent our organization at the Local Conference of Youth (LCOY) USA 2023. The conference organizers selected Emily Prettyman, Jessica Harrington, and Keely McNeme from hundreds of applicants to serve as delegates and co-lead a workshop on Climate Communications for the entire delegation; Emily and Keely also served as volunteer coordinators and facilitators, respectively.
LCOY USA 2023 is part of a worldwide movement, closely connected to COY (Conference of Youth) and YOUNGO, the youth arm of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. It's where activists under the age of 35 unite, discuss, and advocate for climate action. Taking place on American University’s campus in Washington, DC with over 100 delegates attending, the conference’s goal was to craft a youth statement to be merged and combined with youth statements from other countries and presented at COP28 in Dubai.
Emily played a significant role as a volunteer, dedicating months to preparation for the conference, coordinating logistics, programming, and onsite support. Her and fellow volunteers’ dedication is a testament to the commitment of young people to addressing the climate crisis.
Day 1: Kickoff and Networking
The first day of LCOY USA 2023 featured accomplished speakers, including:
Abby Finkenauer from the U.S. Special Envoy for Global Youth Issues in the US State Department highlighted the pivotal role of young people in shaping global climate policy and her own journey as the second-youngest US Congresswoman elected in history.
Dr. Rick Spinrad from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) offered insights into climate science, the importance of reliable data in tackling climate challenges, and how he’s engaging youth climate action in government.
Sophia Powless, representing the Aspen Institute, emphasized the need for environmental justice and the power of local youth to take action.
Afterward, Emily, Jess, and Keely met members of the delegation who came from (almost) all 50 states. While there was an upper age limit of 35, climate activists as young as 11 attended. Every person was actively working to create positive change in their communities across the US, and all had impressive accomplishments in their own right.
Day 2: Brainstorming and Ideation
The first part of the day included speakers and group workshops, giving the delegation time to learn the basics of negotiation and activism on a global scale and get to know each other better. Memorable speakers included:
Ed Markey, the climate-focused junior Senator from Massachusetts, encouraged youth to push for change from policymakers.
Rev. Dallas Conyers from the Climate Action Network, underscored the importance of environmental activism and the pillars of environmental justice and equity using the Jemez Principles
Emily led the Redwood contingent’s session, which focused on the key principles of climate communication and gave a broad overview of best practices. Effective communication, no matter the subject, begins with three universal requirements: know your audience(s), know the best channels to reach your audience(s), and be clear on your goal. We also discussed ways to curate key messages and media interview basics. The session covered all of the basics of climate communication, which can also be found in the toolkit Jessica and Emily created in collaboration with the Aspen Institute earlier this year.
The second half of the day had delegates delve into Adaptation, Mitigation, and Just Transition, allowing participants to explore these specific areas to begin crafting a pointed and poignant youth statement. The breakout sessions provided a space for attendees to discuss ideas collaboratively.
Day 3: Finalizing the Statement and Wrapping Up
The final day’s program continued its focus on Adaptation, Mitigation, and Just Transition, building on the priorities that emerged from the previous day’s discussions. The second half of the sessions focused on fostering youth inclusion throughout the legislative process relating to climate.
In the afternoon, we reflected on the conference's overall achievements and areas for improvement. It was an open and constructive dialogue, ensuring that future LCOY conferences continue to evolve. The day ended with artistic expressions as delegates shared spoken word poetry, inspiring quotes, and meaningful sayings from their respective cultures.
LCOY USA 2023 showcased young people's dedication, passion, and collective power in the fight against climate change. Members of the Redwood team played a vital role in the LCOY event, from Emily's contributions as a volunteer to the insightful discussions and workshops we helped contribute to and facilitate.
We left LCOY with a renewed sense of purpose and a stronger commitment to climate action. The momentum from this conference will drive our ongoing efforts to address the climate crisis and create a sustainable future. The youth are rising, and the call for change is undeniable. We’re looking forward to seeing how the youth statement is received at COP28, and how global leaders respond to growing youth pressure to address climate change.
Check out the full national youth statement for the U.S. developed at LCOY 2023.
