EARTH, SEGIB and the Costa Rican government announce intergenerational gathering on climate change
On Thursday April 19, EARTH University, the Ibero-American Secretary General (SEGIB) and the Costa Rican Government announced The Ibero-American Gathering for Intergenerational Joint Responsibility on Climate Change that will take place in Costa Rica in 2013. The first-of-its-kind gathering will give young professionals from Ibero-America the opportunity to participate in defining strategies and solutions to climate change with heads of state and government officials in the region.
The announcement was made at the SEGIB headquarters in Spain by Foreign Minister of Costa Rica, Enrique Castillo, together with Costa Rican Minister of Culture and Youth, Manuel Obregón, Costa Rican Minister of Environment, Energy and Telecommunications, René Castro, and the president of EARTH University José Zaglul. During the announcement Enrique V. Iglesias, Ibero-American Secretary General, and Rafael Garrazo from AECID (Spanish International Cooperation Agency for Development) delivered presentations.
The meeting will promote “intergenerational co-responsibility” as an innovative strategy to improve the impact and guarantee the sustainability of responses to climate change. In addition, the gathering will strengthen the ties between generations in developing solutions for climate change that incorporate knowledge, experiences, capabilities and commitment from the present and future generations.
During his speech, Chancellor Castillo pointed out that the purpose is to open a duel-track approach with young people and political powers to ensure the planet’s good health.
José Zaglul informed that the action plan includes an online contest to identify the 100 most successful experiences of young professional, and select the group of young leaders who will work on the evaluation and development of intergenerational solutions to climate change.
Manuel Obregón said, “The environmental conscious and the climate change effects are part of the youth’s knowledge. It’s part of their world, because it was inherited. That’s why we believe that they have a better conceptual and realistic capacity, sensitivity and solidarity to point out effective solutions that will hit the target of the challenges of reduction and adaptation to climate change.”
At the end of the presentation, President of Costa Rica, Laura Chinchilla, participated via tele-conference and highlighted that 95 percent of the energy consumed in Costa Rica is from renewable sources. She expressed her support of the initiative of EARTH University to organize the gathering as an innovative tool to build a better world for future generations.
