Raising Latin American and Carribean Youth Voices
Building Bridges for Climate Action (BB4CA) aims to provide a starting point for a paradigm shift to strengthen the climate movement across the globe by putting underrepresented groups in the spotlight.
25 unique young climate experts from Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) Region will come together and travel to Germany for a 3‑week long programme to share their knowledge, stories, experiences, expertise and realities of the unfolding climate crisis. They will raise their concerns regarding the current impacts of climate change affecting front-line communities and the expected impacts on young and future generations. They will explain their demands and discuss and exchange approaches to climate action in political, economic, scientific and civil places of power in Germany .
BB4CA is jointly organized by young volunteers from Latin America, the Carribean and Europe. The project is financially supported by the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety and it is legally carried by the German Youth NGO Klimadelegation e.V.
Any question?
bb4ca-info@klimadelegation.de
Press inquiries here:
bb4ca-press@klimadelegation.de
What is the project about?
The climate crisis is an urgent issue that needs to be addressed globally. Youth around the world persistently lead and participate in a multitude of climate initiatives, advocacy and research activities and activism at all levels. In their work they face various challenges which highly depend on their surroundings and circumstances, such as their origin or ethnicity, their socio-economic background and other factors.
Despite the fact that the climate movement is a global one, some voices, especially those of youth living in the Global South, young people of color and indigenous youth are underrepresented in the mainstream discourse and media reports about the climate crisis and international climate politics.
Yet they are the ones in the frontline facing the climate impacts. They possess the greatest experience and knowledge on what is happening and what needs to be done. There is an urgent need to develop a true consciousness for the vastly differing realities of young people on opposite sides of the Atlantic. The fact that the UN Climate Conference has been taking place on the European Continent three times in a row makes an equal representation of key actors from the most vulnerable areas to the climate crisis even more difficult.
What is the aim?
The 25 young climate experts from the LAC region will conduct an 7‑week long online programme during which the group will work together to prepare for their climate journey through Germany and further develop their knowledge and skills and prepare their project outputs. In Germany they will be undertaking a 3‑week long multifaceted programme. They will meet German and European youth, climate and other organizations, initiatives, scientific and educational institutions, companies, the media and the public as well as government officials, negotiators and politicians. They will share their knowledge, stories and expertise on the unfolding climate crisis. They will raise their concerns regarding the current impacts of climate change, gain new knowledge, explain their demands and discuss approaches to climate action.
In this, BB4CA aims to further build and strengthen bridges between Latin America, the Caribbean Region and Europe for accelerated awareness and empowerment and to create a momentum for ambitious, youth centered global climate action. It aims to amplify the voices, especially of those youth living in the global south, young people of color and indigenous youth who are until now still underrepresented in the mainstream discourse and media reports about the climate crisis and international climate policy. BB4CA is determined to contribute to a paradigm shift in making the expertise, perspectives and experiences of those visible who have been disregarded in the climate movement in the Global North for too long. The project aims to send out a sign of unity, empowerment and global partnership to reach the Paris Goals.
BB4CA aims for a momentum of global cooperation and commitment for climate action which is desperately needed: the international climate policy processes have been postponed and all eyes are on Germany and the EU to lead the ambition raising process during the German EU Council Presidency and globally.
Last but not least, the project emphasizes the importance of uniting actions within the Latin American and Caribbean region. We believe coming together globally and locally is necessary for successful climate action.
Legal Entity:
Klimadelegation e.V.
