Scouts show up at global climate conference with urgent message for world leaders

A delegation of Scouts from across the globe attended the COP26 to take a stand on the global climate crisis and advocate for urgent action by world leaders to respond to imminent threats posed by climate change. Young people from Mexico, Finland, Portugal, Bangladesh, Ireland, Sweden and Niger represented Scouting during the event in Glasgow with an urgent message for world leaders to act now. 

Over the course of the 12-day event, the young delegates met with political figures and negotiators, participated in panel discussions, spoke with media, and joined environmental activists to encourage world leaders to develop policies that protect people and nature, and commit to reducing climate change more fairly and equitably. 

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“It was great to discuss and see how Scouts all over the world want the same things. Scouts from Ireland to Bangladesh to Mexico are speaking about climate and sharing their personal experiences. This is a good start, and there’s still a lot of work to do for Scouts!” said Ada, a Scout delegate from Finland, attending the event. 

Bear Grylls, Chief Ambassador of World Scouting, who helped launch a global campaign earlier this year to inspire Scouts to make a #PromiseToThePlanet, also joined youth delegates on stage and on camera to shine a spotlight on how the Scout Movement is taking action in communities around the world to save the environment.

Ahead of COP26, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, visited Scottish Scouts to participate in environmental activities and reiterate their support for Scouts and Promise to the Planet.

Partner organisations and other COP26 attendees joined Scouts throughout the event to make their Promise to the Planet, including WWF, musician Ellie Goulding and musician and SDG Young Leader, AY Young. Scouts were actively featured on the United Nations and COP26 pages, ensuring young peoples’ voices are heard at the largest climate conference.

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Just this year, 2,000 youth-led community service projects, logged through the Scouts for SDGs, and as part of the Promise to the Planet campaign have contributed nearly 100 million hours towards fighting climate change. Young people have done this by undertaking activities like clearing plastic pollution, planting trees, advocating among decision-makers, and educating themselves and others on how to protect the planet. This work builds on the 2.5 billion hours of community service young people have contributed towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the last decade to help combat climate change, promote peace, reduce inequalities and champion sustainability.

Delegates enjoyed a full agenda with speaking opportunities in the UK and WWF pavilions, One Young World’s Extreme Hangout, among others, and spent time meeting and networking with other youth activists, decision-makers and leaders they met at the event. Scouts were also the interviewed by local and national media, strengthening their representation as one of the prominent youth voices in attendance. 

“If you’re not able to co-design & co-develop with young people and the people who should benefit from your programme or initiative, then your impact won’t matter to anyone - the priority in any initiative should be the improvement and change in people's’ lives,” said Grecia Barcena, a Youth Representative for World Scouting. Prior to COP26, Grecia helped shape the Global Youth Statement at COY16, representing the official input into the climate negotiations. 

The delegates will now take their learnings and experiences from being at COP26 back home where they will get more involved in climate advocacy at the national level and meet with local leaders and decision makers to call for climate action in their respective countries. 

Through educational initiatives such as Scouts for SDGs and Earth Tribe, Scouts have the opportunity to explore how their everyday choices and actions can have an impact on the environment, and how young people as active global citizens can create change and advocate for a greener future.