Youth Have What it Takes: A Reflection on UNOC 2022
September 20, 2022
By: Siobhan Takala
Attending the United Nations Oceans Conference (UNOC) in Lisbon, Portugal was an unexpected opportunity! As a member of the Ocean Bridge Alumni delegation, it was an honour to experience the conference with other passionate youth.
As a first timer at an international conference there was so much to prepare and learn. The lead up would have been intimidating without such a caring team! With their support, I was able to stay curious. I was so excited to learn about perspectives on preserving, rehabilitating, and healing our oceans from around the world.
On the first day of the conference it became clear that I was going to learn a lot, be disappointed a lot, make many new connections, and deepen my existing belief in the power of youth.
The Learning
It is quite hard not to learn something new with so many people gathering together to share their ideas. A highlight of the conference was getting to expand my understanding of ocean systems, ocean health, and ocean action, especially from Indigenous people and impacted communities, such as artisanal fishers.
The Disappointment
Perhaps these frustrations are due to being a first-timer, but nonetheless they were challenging. I was grateful for my delegation during the hard moments. We had each other’s backs, supporting each other along the way.
- Lack of Action – By the end of the first day our team was joking that governments had gathered for the second UNOC to discuss the things they hadn’t done over the past two years. Noticing this trend emerge on the first day was infuriating given the dire state of our environment.
- Youth Exclusion – I was hopeful for robust youth engagement, however, the conference failed to address systemic barriers to meaningful youth participation. Prior to the conference was the UN Ocean Conference Youth and Innovation Forum. Youth who attended shared it was extremely impactful, however, many of these youth were unable to attend the main conference due to a lack of access to entrance badges. Youth had to be sponsored separately, such as by a non-profit, to attend UNOC itself, leaving many passionate and knowledgeable youth unable to attend most of the events at UNOC. Additionally, throughout the conference many of the “youth panels” centered ‘adult’ voices, sometimes including one youth at the end to share the ‘youth perspective’. Youth are not a monolith. Our wide-range of perspectives deserve to be valued and heard in a more robust, respectful way.
The New Connections
I met so many inspiring folks, especially youth, from around the world. In the face of government inaction, I am so grateful to be connected to so many people who are tackling the current intersecting crises.
The Power of Youth
Youth are acting on the intersecting crises that face us, and are doing so from a justice based perspective. Youth continue to challenge the status quo and push for deeper, more impactful action. To the adults out there, know that whatever you are working on, there is a youth that is dedicated and innovative that could be brought into your work.
My last reflections on UNOC are for youth attending a similar event:
- Even though the UN has a long way to go to effectively incorporate youth voices, but your voice still matters! Go, learn, share your perspective, and expand your connections to youth across the globe. These connections are what bring me hope!
- Before going, reflect on how you might take care of yourself (and other youth) throughout. Lean on each other for support and joy!
This is a guest blog post by Siobhan Takala, a program manager with Youth Climate Lab.